Righteousness, Peace, and Joy — Alan Martin

Seeking the Kingdom and God’s Righteousness

The message this morning actually came from the one of the songs we sang one of the first songs from Matthew 6 33 seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. And all these other things shall be added unto you.

So let's consider. What does it mean to seek? The kingdom of God and his righteousness. We should remember that the kingdom of God is not of this world because remember Jesus before Pilate. When Pilate was questioning there we can find this in John 18.

Pilate was asking him so are you a king then and Jesus said well, you're the one who says it and Jesus said my kingdom is not of this world or else my servants Would would fight to prevent my arrest of the Jews, but now my kingdom is from another place.

I am sent here to speak in behalf of the truth all who are on the side of truth. Listen to me and then of course Pilate's famous answer. What is truth, but Jesus indicated my kingdom is Not of this world.

The Spiritual Kingdom and the Things Above

So this this explains why Paul said to the church in Colossians Set your mind on things above. Not on things of this earth if we're going to seek the kingdom and it's not of this world. We're going to have to seek it from another place the kingdom of God Comes from God the Father himself where the Father and Jesus are seated together reigning in heaven and This is what Paul said set your mind on things above not on earthly things where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

And that's where your life is hidden. So that's the life that we're supposed to be seeking this the kingdom of God is a Spiritual kingdom that comes down from heaven and affects us in this earth. Paul puts it this way and I'm gonna start actually giving you these references so you can follow with me if you'd like.

In Romans chapter 14 verse 17 Paul Wrote for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but the kingdom of God is righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. So the kingdom of God that we're to seek it's interesting that Paul lists first Righteousness the kingdom of God is righteousness peace and joy.

Jesus put the two together seek ye first the kingdom of God and His Righteousness, I believe Paul was intentional when he places Righteousness first in this list that the kingdom of God is righteousness.

Peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Because peace must flow from righteousness and we'll explain that a little bit further in today's message and then the result of joy, there is joy being a result of Righteousness and peace with God.

Justification by Faith and Peace with God

So we're gonna start by looking at the righteousness that we're to seek the righteousness of the kingdom of God. And if you want to turn with me, I'm going to turn to Romans chapter 5 a Very famous verse to most of us if you've been in church.

You're gonna be familiar with this passage Romans 5 1 therefore Since we are justified by faith We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Now if you're following me You'll notice your Bible either says since we are Justified or some of your versions say since we have been justified.

How come they would translate it those two different ways? Well, it's because it's in an heiress tent in the original language and the focus is not when it's not when we're justified. Heiress is a tense that the writer uses when he went when he wants to focus on how something happens.

Not when it happens. The focus is here is the way men are justified men are justified By faith and that's what brings him peace with God. Not we don't focus on the wind and there's reasons that I want to establish that with you This morning because this this verse the beginning of chapter 5 and this is part of the problem.

Although it's helpful that men make chapters and number verses men did that there are no original numbers and chapters in the Bible matter of fact. There's no periods or commas or quotation marks or exclamation points.

It is just letter after letter and scholars have to study and literally Separate understand where one sentence begins and where another ends and they add Punctuation and they add numbers for us for the sake of study.

Can you imagine reading a document and it's just solid letters and there's no punctuation. Well, that's how much you have to learn study the original language to get a grasp of it but the difficulty when you make chapters is Sometimes you choose a chapter break where you think there's a change of subject and that's clearly not the case here because the best example of what it means to be justified by faith is Abraham in chapter 4 of Romans is all about Abraham and if you're going to understand what Paul goes into you need to understand Abraham's justification by faith and Paul's going to carry that Understanding into his beginning of the explanation in chapter 5.

Abraham’s Continuing Faith in Romans 4

So let's back up to Romans chapter 4 and let's look at this Process of Abraham who's called our father in the faith. We're very familiar that Abraham was justified by faith not by works, but let's look into it More clearly and I'm I have this I'm very grateful for this.

I God in his mercy Gave me a hunger to read the original language original Greek because I can tell you it's clearer in the original Than it is in our in our English and I'm going to try to make that Practical to you without losing you in the details.

I don't want it to be all Greek to you okay, I want you to get something out of it, but Look where it says here in in the life of Abraham verse 18 of Romans chapter 4 in hope against hope Abraham believed and so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken.

So shall your offspring be. This word Abraham believed that's also an heiress. The focus is not went on when it happened the focus is on how he became The father of many nations he became the father of many nations by believing.

What did that? Believing look like well Paul goes on to explain it verse 19 and without becoming weak in his faith He contemplated his own body now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old and the deadness of Sarah's womb so here Abraham is hoping against hope for a period of he's almost a hundred years old at this point.

Do you know it most people when they talk about Abraham being justified by faith? They go to Genesis chapter 15 Verse 6 where the Lord took Abraham after he had lived in the land of Canaan. Ten years, you know that because that's what it chapter 16 of Genesis.

It opens up chapter 16 is the story of Abraham and and Hagar where Sarah gave Hagar her Egyptian handmaiden to Abraham as a wife. It says in chapter 16 that after Abraham had lived in the land ten years.

That means in chapter 15 when the Lord brings Abraham out and Tells him to look at the sky and see if he can count the stars if he can number them. Then his generate his descendants are going to be as numerous as that.

Well, he's only 75. But the verse says Abraham looked up. He believed God and it was reckoned unto him as righteousness. But look at this if you see Paul's context here Romans chapter 4, that's not what he's talking about.

The belief that he's talking about with Abraham. Remember though the means by which he becomes the father of many nations is by faith. It's not focusing on win. It's not here this event in Genesis chapter 15 verse 6.

This is a process. Abraham was 85 years old when this happened in Genesis chapter 15 verse 6. He's nearly a hundred years old now. That's 15 more years in hope against hope is a process of believing not an act of one-time faith.

And you need to see this in Paul's very specific and it goes on to say verse 20. Yet with regard to the promise of God he did not waver in unbelief, but he grew stronger in faith. Giving glory to God being fully assured that what God had promised.

He was able to do. He was doing that over a period of 15 years. Not a one-time act. He lived by faith. That's why Paul and the first part of the book of Romans says that the gospel the righteousness of God is Revealed in the gospel from faith to faith.

Abraham had faith exercised faith in Genesis chapter 15 verse 6 when he looked up and he believed God and In hope against hope he continued to live by faith. Until he actually received the his the child Isaac when he was a hundred years old during that process Abraham believed and and it says verse Verse 21 and being a fully assured that God had power to do what he promised.

He was able to do so in verse 22. Therefore it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Now Paul should know something there. Paul knows that it was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness in Genesis 15 6. Now, how is he tying it here?

To Abraham receiving the son Isaac because Paul understands it's the same faith in Genesis 15 16. It's the same faith in Genesis chapter 18 and 19 and 20 when Paul Begins to actually receive the sign of circumcision and after that a year later Isaac is actually born through Sarah's womb and God fulfilled his promise in Abraham receives Isaac the the son of promise.

And then he says verse 23. Now not for his sake only was it written that it was counted it to him. But for the sake also of us to whom it will be counted as those who are believing the righteousness of faith is a righteousness that God accredits to those who live by Faith not those who have committed an act of Faith at one time.

That emphasis is an emphasis man places on the justification by faith. Justification and righteousness are the same word man becoming righteous before God is By faith. And I want to take you to a passage that that actually highlights this even even further.

Living by Faith in Hebrews 10 and 11

Let's go to James. Nope, let's go to Hebrews. Hebrews chapter 10 the again a famous passage in the New Testament about living by faith. Hebrews chapter 10 verse 38. But my righteous one shall live out of Faith shall live is a Greek future middle tense.

What is what that means. A righteous one who himself is believing will live by faith will live a Righteous one will live through faith. And if he should himself shrink back my soul has no pleasure in him.

But we are not of those who shrink back to this to destruction but of those who have faith to the Preserving of our souls. And then let's continue to read now right into chapter 11 the writer Hebrews thought continues now faith is the substance of things hoped for.

Some of your Bibles put assurance but the literal Greek word is hoopla stasis the underlying basis faith is the underlying basis of things hoped for and the conviction of things not being seen and This happens over a period of time faith in the heart where you continue.

That's your basis of Continuing to hope and by the way when the scripture uses the word hope that means Someone is waiting for something. They do not yet have. Do you know what we're waiting for? We are waiting for the hope of salvation and We wait so by faith.

So any assurance you have a salvation you have on the underlying basis of faith. But you're hoping for it. You don't see the full salvation. Not yet. You have God's promise and He will say and it's coming and all these promises will be fulfilled.

But Paul is very clear. No one hopes for the things he already has. But our basis for being able to hope in this is that is the underlying basis of faith. Faith is a substance of things hoped for. The conviction of things not seen and then verse 2 listen to this very carefully.

By this faith by this underlying basis, that is what the men of old Obtained witness. It's a it's an interesting phrase in other words God watched The men of old he saw their lives and those that he himself Testified this is a righteous man.

They obtained that witness by faith and God did declare men in the Old Testament righteous, didn't he? Noah Job Samuel Ezra David the man after God's own heart the prophets Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Daniel and others like that men Trusting God believing God and acting on that faith.

Obtain the witness that is pleasing to God that they Believed him and he goes on to say in verse 6 of the same chapter and without faith It's not possible to please God. So all of these men were examples of those living by faith.

None of them are an example of a one-time act of faith a Life of faith my righteous one shall live through faith. It's a faith is how we live. Faith is what is pleasing to God and it is faith in God that God reckons as.

Faith Completed Through Obedient Action

Now this is explained even further by another writer this righteousness of faith and he establishes even more a connection that I want to add to this not only is faith a continual faith a process of believing.

This faith is not even complete until it becomes an actual action. Let's let's add that to it. James adds that go with me to check James chapter 2. James chapter 2. Let's start in verse 20. Are you willing to recognize Oh foolish fellow that faith without works is?

Useless, it's unprofitable. It's vain so Faith with if you separate faith from what a person does it's useless. Let's just all understand that. However, you want to say it in a systematic theology? Faith without and the action that follows is Useless is what James is saying then he goes on to say was not our Abraham father Justified and there's the heiress.

Not a single time. Remember heiress is Focusing on how he was justified not when he was justified read it that way was not our Abraham our father justified by works When he offered up at Isaac on the altar.

Now now some of us right there if you know your scriptures, well, you're there. Wait a minute. There's no way Genesis 15 6 says Abraham Looked up believe God and it was he was justified. It was credited to him as righteousness and here James James is talking about something entirely different James is talking about was not our a our father Abraham considered justified For what he did Following through offering up Isaac on the altar.

I want timeline with me follow with me. I want you to see this Abraham is the example of living by faith from faith to faith at age 75 in Canaan. He looks up he believes God he is justified. God reckons to him as righteousness at a hundred years old.

He against all hope in hope he continued to believe and therefore Became the father of many nations when Isaac was born that Abraham is a hundred years old now Isaac is a young man Able to carry wood up to an altar and now God is saying was James is saying is not was not Abraham Justified for what he did when he actually obeyed God when God told him take your son your only son and offer him on The mountain.

I will show you which of those times is the time Abraham was justified. That's a trick question. The focus is not the time. It's the means every single time Genesis chapters 15 verse 6 by faith at a hundred years old.

Circumcised receiving Isaac by faith at probably 115 120 years old. Obeying God to take Isaac up on a mountain. Abraham obeyed by faith. By faith by faith by faith and this is why it was reckoned to him as righteousness and then James adds to this Verse 22 you see and I'm hope you see in this you see that the scripture was fulfilled which says and Abraham believed God the scripture was fulfilled now the scripture the word scripture just means that which is written.

That which is written is referring to Genesis 15 6 and you know, what just Genesis 15 6. It's the marquee of Abraham's life. You know what the marquee is a poster like it, you know outside of the movie.

What do they have? They have a poster with the name of the movie and some things from the movie and what does it say? This is the life of this person. Abraham is described by a life of faith. That's a breath.

That's what it means looking back James is able to say what God said of Abraham is fulfilled. God said he was a man of faith. He was. Wasn't he when he was in er of the Chaldees? He was 75 years old. God called him to leave his country leave his family leave his kinship.

And go to the land. I will show you Abraham Believed and went ten years later. He's living in Canaan. He still has no children. Sarah has probably been barren 30 plus years already. No children, God says he's gonna make him the father of many nations and and he's going to give him a son.

Abraham still believes he's still believing he's 85 at this point and against all hope under on the basis of his underlying faith. He continues to believe that God has power to do what he's promised and nearly at a hundred years 15 more years Abraham actually holds the promise of Isaac in his hands.

Sarah has a has a son. Abraham has the beat the first heir that God says will be the fulfillment of his promised him to make him the father of many nations and 15 or more years later Abraham believes God when God instructs him to take his son Isaac and go up to the mountain and off from there where he shows him and James says this do you see?

His actions were working together with his faith and making his faith complete. Consummating it. Finishing it your version may say perfect. The idea is He it's not until we act. That faith is made complete.

Faith, the Character of God, and the Unfaithful Servant

And what act is God looking for? Why is it without faith? It's impossible to please God because faith is the underlying basis of what it takes to please God because God does not want us following him because we're afraid of going to hell and God doesn't want us following him because we believe he has spoken his law and if we miss his law He's going to take his big celestial hammer and wrap us every time we do something wrong.

Faith is God doesn't want the heart. It was like that Unfaithful lazy wicked servant. You remember him the the servant that was only given one talent. Why do you think that his master only gave one talent which says that the master called his servant and gave them talents According to their abilities.

So how come this servant had such limited ability that the master only gave him one talent? It's because of what he thought of the master. This is the one servant didn't say this about the other servants this servant knew the master to be a hard and austere man and God doesn't want to be viewed that way.

God is good. He's perfect. His wisdom is perfect. His love is perfect. His care for us is perfect and every word that comes out of his mouth Has our best interest at heart? It's filled with his love. It's filled with his wisdom.

It's filled with his goodness and it's believing that. Knowing him for who he actually is that's pleasing to him. What so what's happening in our day and time? How can men decide that something God has said is now wrong and they disagree with it?

Compromising God’s Truth for the Sake of Peace

Because that's happening. Churches are changing things. Things that specifically God said don't do this this Displeases me it uses a stronger word. It's hardly even spoken in churches today. The word is Abomination.

That's you didn't know what most of us don't even know what that means. Other than is something really bad. The the basic of the of the original word video means to stink. Basically God says some things.

Think to him they're rotten. It's what he said, how is it? How is it that men? Entire churches. Take something that God said. Stinks to him and now they say mm-hmm. We don't want to be that way. We are open to all.

We know it says that but we don't we don't believe that. What are they saying about God. If they're right. Doesn't that make God wrong. Are you following me. Are y 'all awake. Are you gonna be faced with this so if God said it and They're right, then God is wrong.

Now that doesn't seem to bother them. So what does that mean? How do they reconcile that with themselves because they're not denying that it's in the Bible. So, how do they reconcile that when now they say we're actually going to receive something that God has said he cannot receive.

How did they do that? They said they do not believe God said it. They believe man. Claims God said it. So, you know what their basis of right and wrong is what becomes their basis of right and wrong is can't can't be this.

Because if you if you change that if that's not true, and if that's not true. Well, then that's not true. And that's not true because we've decided it's not true. Then what's true. Whatever we agree upon and you know what a lot of these churches that are going this direction.

They don't it's not even the majority. It's not the majority of them that change it starts brother Rudy knows you can ask him. He was from a Methodist Church. You can ask him about it. Didn't it start with just a small group of people and they decided not only was the Bible not correct.

Neither was the rest of their church. Even their church disagree with him didn't stop them in their mind. All of that is wrong. We're right. This is what we're gonna do. And that's what we're facing in our day and time.

And if we're gonna seek righteousness where we're gonna get is that what's the idea of righteousness then what's right and wrong. If we cannot trust what God has said that his word is inspired. These are it every scripture is the living Inspired breath of God if we cannot accept this is right.

You know, what becomes right? Everyone does what's right in their own eye and you know what Jesus said would increase in the last days. Lawlessness, you know what another good description of lawlessness is.

Everybody does what they think is right and No longer it's not based upon what God has said and what do we know? What is what is faith come by? Faith comes by Hearing and where does this hearing come from?

The Word of God. So if we're going to live by faith. Then we're going to be a people who live by the Word of God. But if my righteous one shrink back shrink back from what. The accusation that you're bigoted unloving unkind Phobic Intolerant gonna shrink back you're gonna join the new majority the new revelation Has decided in their own mind that We we're not basing what we do on that.

See we are to seek righteousness and Righteousness is based upon believing what God has said having the right heart and attitude towards him and Now this is going to tie the scripture together. Blessed are you?

When men or persecute you because of Righteousness. See if righteousness comes from Believing what God said then what's in our future? For believing what God says. Persecution from those who've decided.

That's not the way we're gonna be. Our church is not going to be that way. We are going to be the church of the open door. We are gonna receive all we're not gonna say it we're not gonna say those hurtful ugly old-fashioned Fundamental things anymore.

And what we'll do is we'll create this caricature. We'll create this caricature of this mean spirited spitting Fundamentalist Bible thumping preacher who yells and and that way that's who will be rejecting everyone will know that's an idiot and we are the wise Kind open-hearted ones.

Open to all we no longer believe those old religious Fundamental things we're not ignorant like those people. Blessed are you? If that's the way men treat you for simply believing What God says? Simply believing what he says.

False Peace, False Prophets, and the Wounds of God’s People

Here's the thing if you don't believe what God says. Then you're gonna be Some you can become something That I don't think anyone intentionally became. I'm gonna I'll explain remember we started in Romans 14 where the kingdom of God is righteousness.

Peace and joy in the Holy Spirit see peace Can only come from righteousness. And when you separate? Peace and righteousness, you know what you become maybe well intentioned because that seems to me what what's happening.

There are churches nowadays that are separating what God has said and they want peace. We want peace with all we don't want to make anybody feel bad. Call yourself. Whatever you are. He she it they will I mean whatever whatever gender whatever you are caught.

We're open to you we just know this we love you. Whatever you will. You know what? That's a description me. That's just a place that wants peace. We're just two people of peace. You know that there were men like that in the Old Testament.

There were men. Like that in the Old Testament you can read about them all through there. They kind of got the idea that you know what it's not about everything. God has said Come on his covenant is not the only way this this people do it this way.

And this nation does it this way? You know what? They feel like the. These these conservative people over here these prophets of God or these these priests that all they do is sit around. They want to make sure it's exactly what God said forget them.

We care about you. Don't listen to them and you know what they would do. You know what they would do. They cared about the people they wanted the people to have some Liberty some freedom. Come on do it your way.

Don't listen to those people who just insisted. It must be exactly like God said. You know what God called those? You know what? You know what God called those men? False prophets. And you know what he said about them.

He says that this is the two things that God had against those men Said first of all, they treat the wound of my people superficially. What what do you think the wound of the people? What did he mean by that?

What was causing the wound of the people? You know what their real problem was? They had stopped living by the instructions. They had separated God from his actual words. They still wanted God, but they basically said not according to those words.

We will worship God our way our time. Well, we're gonna adopt some new things. I like the way they do it. Let's just do it that oh, I like this. I like that image of God. Let's incorporate that in our worship.

That's what they were doing. They were being night it much more open-minded. That's the first thing God said about them that they heal the wound of my people slightly and you know the next thing. The God said about them.

They this was the basic part of their message. They kept preaching peace peace peace. But God said there is no peace. Now why in God's mind would there not be peace? But in the mind of these people who have these new thoughts and this openness and they care about people and they want people to Be able to have their own expression and they want there to be greater freedom.

Why do these people? Why is God saying there's no peace and that while they're claiming there's peace. Because God says the only way you can have peace with me. Is you live the way I say that's how my righteous person lives my righteous person Believes my words and lives by them these men over here.

They claim they're for peace. They're not making you be they're not they're not bringing you to have peace with me. So their message of peace is cheap and It's any and the Lord said this over and over again.

Do not listen to what these men are saying. They will not do you any good. The New Testament brings new ideas into this says they promise you freedom they talk about freedom. But you know what? They're talking about freedom from they're talking about freedom from Living according to every single word of the Lord Jesus.

True Freedom Comes Through Christ’s Word

Jesus wants to get wants us to be free, but Jesus told us how we can be free. Jesus said if you continue in my word then you're really my disciples and Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

If you continue in my words, here's what Jesus also said if anyone is ashamed of me. Can you finish it for me? Or my words. There's a lot of us done. You're not ashamed of Jesus. But are you ashamed that Jesus believes that every scripture in the Old Testament was from his father?

Do you believe that Jesus does that the things that were an abomination to the father are? Still an abomination to Jesus. Do you believe that because if you don't believe that You're not ashamed of Jesus.

You're just ashamed of his words or or you're one of these open persons. I'm more open to that. I don't think that's right. I don't think Jesus would be against anybody, you know, Jesus looked at his disciples and said I Don't call you servants anymore.

I Call you my friends. Because I've made known my will to you servants don't know their master's business, but I've made know my will to you. And he said, you know if you continue in my word. Then you're gonna be my friends if you keep my word.

You're really my friends. So if Jesus said that if you keep my words, you're really my friends. What about those people who don't keep Jesus words. Because they don't agree with them. They don't think it's loving.

They don't think that's very peaceful. They want a church that's open to everybody everyone's idea. Pink hair purple hair. I know I'm not saying anything wrong with hair color. My wife used to color her hair.

If you watch her now, it's kind of slowly going back. It's original. She Teuton. She's probably listening to me. I'm gonna get in trouble. We just have to stop and think. I don't think we think of where the world's going.

The words of Jesus and the words of our Heavenly Father are being undermined and there is no peace without righteousness. There's no peace. Isaiah 4822 and 5721. I believe both say this and it's interesting it they say this in your English versions in the Greek version Of the Old Testament, they use a different word, but they both fit here.

It says Even as the sea when it's stirred up by a storm as the waves pick up Mud and they toss it the tossing of the waves pick up debris and mud says there's no peace. For the wicked both of the verses say that but in the Septuagint, it doesn't use the word peace.

It uses the word joy. Rejoicing. Isn't that interesting? There's no rejoicing for the wicked. I like that the reason I like that is because of Paul's insight that the kingdom of God is Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit and I want to summarize this message.

Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Spirit

Try to make you understand how these three things are so dynamically corrected connected. What is God considered righteous? The person who believes every single word he says and Acts on it. That's what God considers righteous.

Abraham as the example. Make Abraham your example of faith and you won't go wrong. It's from faith to faith by faith against hope in hope in faith fulfilled acted did was declared righteous by faith to faith faith all along righteous in God's sight and you know what Abraham was called the only person in the Old Testament called this as A special relationship with God.

It might tell me whatever it what God called Abraham. The friend of God. Didn't Jesus say you are my friends if you do what I command. You know what this thing about Abraham. Abraham Had the relationship with God that God longs.

Abraham believed God was good. Abraham sought to understand the goodness of God and when God spoke even when it was difficult for Abraham. Abraham acted even when he didn't fully understand it all and That's the kind of heart that God wants and you know what?

It brings a person like that. You know what happens to someone who no longer thinks God is just up there in heaven and he's sending people to hell at least what those fundamentalist Bible thumpers think when they yell and scream and scare your body and hold their signs and They're can't made that they let the earth be rid of them.

Maybe some of those people in their expression We're wrong. Be careful though, I may have been one of those persons at one time. You didn't know me you haven't known me all my life. I think at times that I misrepresented The Heavenly Father in a way that I regret.

But yeah, I'm not gonna go so far as to change not a single word. What did Lord Jesus remind us? Do not think That I am come to abolish the law. I'm not come to abolish the law. I Tittle not one tiny Mark is going to be erased from the law until all Things come to pass and then he told the people unless your righteousness Surpasses that of the Scribes and the Pharisees.