True Righteousness

I have currently been reading two different books, written by Christians, detailing how to go against secular culture's views of dating, low expectations, and your general use of the time God has given you. The book's overarching ideas are great, biblically-centered ones that I'm sure are very pleasing to God. They challenged me, and have been helping me to think about whether or not my actions in these areas are in fact pleasing to the Lord. The problem is one simple, yet incredibly crucial foundation that the authors are off base on.

{2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) - For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.}

Whenever they talk about change - life altering change - they focus on the person. They tell stories about how the person did or didn't do this or that, and subsequently began to become more righteous. Both of the books are incredibly successful, and I think that the previously mentioned is the key to why. We, yes even we Christians, want to know that if we're able to just meet these requirements, then we can reach our goals all by our self. Everyone wants to be able to succeed through following a simple checklist.

{Titus 3:5 (ESV) - He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.}

But Paul says this is not the case. You become more righteous or bear fruit by growing in your relationship to Him. This is done by spending time with Him in His word, and through prayer. This is accomplished through having a humble, earnest, God-seeking heart which is given to one by the grace of God. It is by His wonderful grace.

{Isaiah 42:6 (ESV) - "I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations.}

It seems to me that legalism is such an easy pit to fall into. It sure does make life simple, and it looks good. DOING is so much easier than BEING. In doing we can just go through the motions, not really growing, but still possibly getting recognition for being the good kid. We can not go to the parties, not drink, not have sex, not hang out with the "bad kids", not cuss, and we can go to youth group, go on mission trips, volunteer, say the right things, and people will label us as righteous. We can edit, add, cut and paste our actions so that it seems like we're fixing our sin, but if we're not getting to the heart, if we're not repenting, then we're not growing. Growing in Christ, through his grace, is how we truly change. It's by God editing, adding, cutting and pasting our hearts, molding, shaping, and transforming us that we will change. Nothing we can do is gonna get us to that point of change, but only by our reliance upon Him can we ever conquer sin. Join with me in relying on Him to change your heart and change your life.

2 Timothy 4:8 (ESV) -
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.