May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God [that His glory may be both manifested and recognized] (Philippians 1:11 AMPC).Romans 5:1 AMPC says, “THEREFORE, SINCE we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).” To be justified means to be declared not guilty. That’s who the Christian is: one who’s been declared righteous and has right standing with God. He’s not merely a “sinner saved by grace.”
Yes, we were saved by grace, as a means to an end: to become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. It’s the reason our lives ought to be filled with the fruits of righteousness—the works of righteousness. Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches…” (John 15:5). We’re the fruit-bearing part of the vine, and we bear fruits of righteousness. We hold forth the fruits of God’s righteousness everywhere we go; righteousness is working in us.
Now, whatever you’re filled with is what will manifest under pressure. In other words, it’s what you have inside you that you can give. We manifest righteousness; we walk in righteousness and do works of righteousness, because we’re filled with the fruits of righteousness.
When Jesus restored sight to the blind, unstopped deaf ears, gave new legs to the maimed, raised the dead, fed the hungry, comforted the afflicted, spoke divine words to encourage and bless people, He was manifesting fruits of righteousness. And as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17).
You’re a tree of righteousness, ordained to be fruitful and productive in every good work; ordained to manifest the glory of God. You’re His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for works of righteousness (Ephesians 2:10).
PRAYER Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the revelation of your Word to me, and for the working of your Word in my spirit. I’m filled with the fruits of righteousness; therefore, I manifest the righteousness of God to my world just as Jesus did, because as He is, so am I in this world. Hallelujah!
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
2 Corinthians 8-9
Proverbs 24-26
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Luke 22:1-13
1 Samuel 28
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Corinthians 5:21
Philippians 2:13
2 Corinthians 9:10
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