So, What’s Next?

(Now I’m a Christian, what happens next?)

Part II – Understanding Righteousness.

A Bible Study for new Christians and for those wanting much greater insight into foundational Christian understanding.

Study notes for the radio and podcast series “So What’s Next” – Part II?

A series of eight messages - Subscribe to these eight messages

Written and compiled by Joe Armstrong

© Copyright 2024

Acknowledgements

Over the last twenty years, the Lord has introduced many great and dedicated Bible teachers into my life and for this I am eternally grateful.

This handbook, “Now I’m a Christian, What Happens Next – Part II?”, whilst it has been written and compiled by myself, does contain information from assorted and copious notes I have made over some thirty-five plus years of personal Bible study, live conference attendance and the playing of sermons from very accomplished men and women of God.

I thank God for all these men and women who have influenced and shaped my life and have indirectly contributed towards this particular document. I gratefully acknowledge their input into my life.

Joe Armstrong
Pastor.

© Rights and Permissions:

Scripture quotations from The Authorised (King James) Version. Rights in the authorised version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press.

Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMPC),

Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission. lockman.org”

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Episode 1

Understanding Righteousness and Its Importance.

Please read 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 5:17-19 and James 5:16 in the Amplified Bible, the ESV Bible and the King James Bible.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21 - 21 He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].
  • Romans 5:17-19 - 17 For if by the trespass of the one (Adam), death reigned through the one (Adam), much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in [eternal] life through the One, Jesus Christ.18 So then as through one trespass [Adam’s sin] there resulted condemnation for all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to [a]all men. 19 For just as through one man’s disobedience [his failure to hear, his carelessness] the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of the one Man the many will be made righteous and acceptable to God and brought into right standing with Him.
  • James 5:16  - 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].

I cannot emphasise enough the need to understand righteousness. So much of your actual connecting with all that God has for you is made effective in your life because of your righteous position, in Christ.

When you departed from the world to become a Christian (Colossians 1:13, 2 Peter 1:11), you probably would not have realised just how much your conscious thinking, feelings, speech and actions were sourced or driven from a life saturated and surrounded by a SIN environment. Obviously, whatever environment you are immersed in, is the environment that will influence your thoughts, feelings speech and actions. To be effective Christians, we need to carefully manage this truth. Please study these two verses

Ephesians 4:23 Amplified Bible - 23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],

Romans 12:1-2 Amplified Bible - I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.

2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Episode 2

episode link to come - 18th March

The Word of God is given to us (amongst other things) to progressively change us into thinking, behaving and speaking “righteousness” (righteously). We need to develop a “righteousness consciousness” as this will directly affect literally how we think, speak and act. Developing a strong righteousness consciousness is one of the most powerful ways of changing old sinful thoughts, speech and behaviour into God aligned thoughts, speech and behaviour.

Remember – it’s very hard to “stop” something – a habit, an addiction, an attitude – it has to be replaced with something else.

(2.1)       DEFINITIONS.

·       Righteousness is the ability to stand in the presence of our Holy Father without any sense of guilt, fear, uncertainty, condemnation or inferiority. It is as though your sin never existed.

·       Sin is rebellion, transgression and enmity (active opposition) against God and His Word and it produces fear, doubt, condemnation, punishment and ultimately death (Romans 6:23).

·       Consciousness is a person’s awareness of self, environment and mental activity and to a certain degree, can determine their choice of action.

(2.2)       THE POWER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

To be born again is to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord. His death sacrifice on the cross paid the price for your sin so that you can become and be made the righteousness of God.

17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. 18 But all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ [making us acceptable to Him] and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him], 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s sins against them [but canceling them]. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation [that is, restoration to favour with God].

20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us; we [as Christ’s representatives] plead with you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. 21 He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].

Jesus - was made to be sin so that we can become the righteousness of God.

Episode 3

episode link to come - 25th March

  • Righteousness helps you to reign in this life. (Romans 5:17)
  • We receive God’s Righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:22)
  • Effectual, fervent prayer avails much. (James 5:16)
  • God has provided all things that pertain to life and Godliness.  (2 Peter 1:3)

(2.3) RIGHTEOUSNESS AND FELLOWSHIP.

Righteousness allows us to fellowship with God (1 Corinthians 1:9). -

9 God is faithful [He is reliable, trustworthy and ever true to His promise—He can be depended on], and through Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Fellowship means communion and communication. Fellowship also means cooperation, contributions and partnership. Have you ever considered yourself a partner with God – yes, a very unequal partnership for sure but it was God Himself that chose it that way and then created it to be that way through Jesus Christ.

Episode 4

episode link to come - 1st April

Episode 5

episode link to come - 8th April

Episode 6

episode link to come - 15th April

Episode 7

episode link to come - 22nd April

Episode 8

episode link to come - 29th April