GraceUnlimited

What kind of righteousness matters to God- People are driven by all kinds of desires to perform. These do not fly with God. Paul describes the kind of righteousness that God accepts. It is a righteousness that stands apart from the law, but at the same time it has been foretold by the prophets and the law. In other words, personal righteousness does not feature. it is God's righteousness that God approves. It is a righteousness that comes through saving faith in Christ's righteousness. God loves such a person because God loves Jesus. This type of faith fights for the reality of this credited righteousness. Satan loves to hand Christians a mirror so they can be discouraged by their own failures. Look at Jesus. The truly holy man is the one who clings to Christ's righteousness rather than his own. This is true of every believer who has truly been justified through faith.

Suffering is often marked by grumbling and discontentment. Remarkably, Paul deliberately rejoices at the same time as he suffers. Paul knows the God of all comfort and mercy. God has given him strength. His comfort is timed exactly and is very personal. God himself is the source of all of this comfort and the guarantee of it. He also comforts us with a specific purpose. He comforts us in order that we can become comforters. Many Christians are suffering and are thus able to comfort. This is a surprising purpose of God through suffering. This comfort does not extend to Christians who are suffering as a result for their own sin. Rather, such Christians should repent and receive God's forgiveness and comfort. God grants exactly what we need when we need it. Every Christian will suffer within the partnership of other Christians. God encourages us through each others' faith and courage in suffering. God's comfort doesn't simply dull the pain, it gives more power to face the pain.

If Jesus died in shame, how can I be confident that he will return in glory- It is helpful to understand how he died. The Jewish leaders, by the time they lynched Jesus, had been opposing him for a long time. Judas was a money-lover whose ambitions seem to have been disappointed and as a result he betrayed Jesus. Satan also played a part by entering into Jesus. Jesus' years of incarnation are the height of the war for Satan and his demons. God comes into the world in Jesus and his ministry peaks at the Passover. This is the grand theme that overshadows the roles of the evil agents God permitted their roles. Jesus is the Lord of this moment. He has the objects of his love and the glory of his Father in mind. He intentionally lays down his life and knows he will pick it up again with authority. He does it for God. Calvary was intentional. Jesus' death, in this context, was glorious. Jesus' resurrection was pre-planned and intentional and was for you. This is your opportunity to turn to him in repentance before his return.

A name helps us to identify a person. A title helps us to know something about them. In Jesus' case we discover volumes about him by understanding his title Son of man. It is a distinctively Hebrew title, which should have made his Greek-speaking audience take note. He is identifying himself as a human being. To many, his humanity was so obvious that this may not have been surprising. But when his deity is understood at the same time, this title is dramatic. He is the ultimate human. For this particular man to be facing death is a startling reality. His death was not only the death of a man, it was the death of the man who singularly represents the human race. Moreover, Jesus' use of this term only meant one thing to those who understood the Old Testament. This person is the Son of man who is the glorious Son of God. it is the glorious Son of God walking the streets of Jerusalem, who is also the Son of man. As a man, he represents man to God. As God, he represents God to man. who is your representative-

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you have been adopted. This adoption, to Paul, is eternal in its sweep. It is personal to the degree that you have been called a son. God did it because of his love for his children. he has had his adoption in his heart forever- He deeply desires to have his children with him. He wants us to be convinced of his love. Look at the agonies of Jesus to see the dimension of his love. God's love in adoption is greater than the universe. God's adoption makes Christians heirs. We receive his inheritance. No longer will we be subjected to the consequences of our sin, but will inherit the wonderful rewards of His righteousness. This adoption not only has the benefit of personal joy in suffering right now, but the glorious redemption to come. This glory comes to the revel and the wicked. Astoundingly, God provides in every way for us to be as close to him as his own Son is. God considers us Jesus' brothers- This is unspeakable grace and love. Beautiful adoption.

Jesus is at pains to warn his disciples that the day of the Lord will actually happen. There is a danger looming ahead so every person should be dead serious about it. He is most concerned about our hearts. They can easily be distracted and anesthetized by the concerns of the day. A spiritual blackout is too dangerous- You need to be clinging to God deliberately. You need to be doing this in prayer and by being in a clinging church. Are you awake- Are you living in light of Jesus' return- Are you cultivating a heart that is set toward this reality-

God's deal of the century has been unfolding throughout the millennia. The foundations were laid in the Old Testament, directed by God's eternal intention. It took on a whole new life when the King rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. He walked the streets of the city, but not yet ready to rule the earth. Even the temple would still be destroyed. His disciples couldn't understand this, so they asked him in confusion. He warned them of the dreadful times that would come. The devastation of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple. But this is not the end. The times of the gentiles must be fulfilled and then the kingdom wil come in glory. It is not a question of -if-, but a question of -when-. God will still judge Israel for their rejection of Jesus. His timeline for the nation is simply on pause at that moment and it will soon start again. This is the big issue that most of the New Testament is concerned about. Christ will suddenly take His people away before a dreadful time of tribulation on the earth. After that, the King will come. God has never broken a promise, and this promise will be no different. Are you ready to see the King-

At the heart of the church is discipleship. At the heart of discipleship is a growing knowledge of and relationship with Jesus Christ. This is suited to deep Christian relationships that are courageous enough to love in God's way. Such relationships are built upon the right goal- constant growth into Christ-likeness because of the reality of Christ in the heart. This motivates effort toward the goal. God empowers His people. Seek these relationships out in the church and deliberately pursue them.