When we are born-again, it is the boastless act of FAITH–a minimum balance to open an account in heaven–that is credited to us as righteousness (Rom4:5); NOT some supposed righteousness of one who has died for his neighbor. That belongs to Jesus Christ! What’s more, if necessary we ourselves are asked to lay down our lives for our brethren (1Jn3:16). In other words, Jesus’ righteousness of dying for us (imputed righteousness) was spent to pay (“atone”) for our sins that were committed prior to being born-again (Rom3:25; 2Pet1:9).
Don’t let anyone deceive you into remaining in your diaper righteousness, which is got when one is born-again.
“Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.” (1John3:7)
Let us further clothe ourselves (2Cor5:4NKJV) as a Bride prepared for her Bridegroom with Wedding Garments (Matt22), the works prepared beforehand for us to walk in (Eph2:10), which are the righteous acts OF the Saints (Rev19:8), which BTW are not BY Jesus or by the Holy Spirit. These are IMPARTED self-righteousness! And without these wedding garments, we will be found naked (Rev3:17;16:15).
The Lord drew my attention to Matthew 22 once again.
11 “But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, 12 and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless. 13 “Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are called , but few are chosen.”
For two thousand years anyone who read those verses thought that there was only one man in question here and therefore not something the church should be overly concerned about. I believe it is a secret hidden through the centuries. Jesus’ righteousness is Jesus’. The wedding clothes are not your first re-birthday clothes, namely your diaper. Most people think the wedding garments are these so-called, “robes of salvation” (Isa61:10; cf. Ex28:4). That is, they think that those who don’t have salvation, don’t have these robes on and are therefore kicked out. Note that in the end the wedding hall is filled by both good & bad (Matt22:10). That Jesus died and rose again is settled and not in dispute any more by that time. That is, the majority believe in the Truth. It’s a no-brainer! Water Baptism has become of no effect. Whether those who do believe, will follow up with good deeds, bearing fruit with righteous living, is now the question. Therefore, the Wedding Garments are “good deeds” and “righteous acts of the saints” (1Tim2:9-10; Rev19:7-8) “prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph2:10). Those who love the Lord and are truly seeking after the kingdom of God, conduct themselves in good deeds, spontaneously. Hence, the chaff is now easily separated from the grain. To God be the glory!
Please take warning and be “further clothed” (2Cor5:4NKJV).
Now you, Laodiceans, “buy” from me Agape TiE® and cover your nakedness!