Dear Doves;

 

There are two types of righteousness mentioned in the scripture:  imputed righteousness and personal righteousness.  In comparison, our personal righteousness is as filthy rags compared to Christ's imputed righteousness.  Personal righteousness won't get a person to heaven, but imputed righteousness, the righteousness which is by faith, will.  However, that doesn't diminish the fact that there is a need for personal righteousness. 

 

Personal righteousness is no longer based on the keeping of the law, but on being a doer of the word, which produces good works.  James 1:25 says "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." 

 

Titus on the subject of salvation emphasizes the practical need for good works:  Titus 3:5-8  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

 

John tells us that our personal righteousness is one of the signs that we are children of God and goes on to say in  I John 3:10  "whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God"

 

If you didn't read the A.W. Tozer post yesterday, you might want to go back and read it because it's important:  http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/apr2007/pnf426.htm  I think the need for personal righteousness is even greater than Tozer realized.  It's quite obvious that invited guests at the weddings in Jesus' two wedding parables were rejected for two reasons:  lack of oil in the vessel and lack of a wedding garment.  Much has been posted about the requirement for oil in the vessel, but being clothed in the proper wedding garment is just as important.

 

Mat. 22:11-14  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  For many are called, but few are chosen.

 

The book of Revelation describes the wedding garment of the bride of Christ:

Revelation 19:7-9  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

 

Notice the scripture declares that the fine linen garment that clothes the wife is the righteousness of saints, and not the imputed righteousness of Christ.  The imputed righteousness of Christ will get you into the body of Christ and into heaven, but the bride must also be clothed in personal righteousness.

 

We could also say that the first end-time judgment will be the separation of the Philadelphian church from the Laodicean church.  Notice what I Peter 4:17-18 says on this subject:  "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"  The ungodly and sinner here probably refer to two different classes of people.: the lost (ungodly) and the unrighteous Christian who is a frequently guilty of sin (sinner).  Like Tozer, if we look closely, we will continually see the exhortation to personal righteousness associated with passages about the Lord's return. 

 

What shall we say to these things:  Heb. 12 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; ... Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:"  Comparing scripture with scripture, we see the context here must be participation in the rapture, because I Cor. 3:15 clearly indicates that some with imputed righteousness, but without holiness will still "see the Lord" in heaven, but notice that they have to go through fire to get there.

 

It appears that there is a lot more here that the church has just glossed over in the past, but God is now making it known to those who will see the return of the Lord.  Those that aren't baptized in the Holy Spirit know nothing about stammering lips and other tongues and continually try to refute the truth in this area.  However, comparing the definition of the rest in Isaiah 28:11-12:  "For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.  To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear." with Hebrews chapter 3, it appears that missing the rapture due to lack of the baptism of the spirit (oil in the vessel) is the potential danger that we should fear in 4:1  "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it."

 

Notice too, that in Isa. 28, the word of the Lord was here a little and there a little, that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.  God has purposefully spoke in parables that those who have ears to hear may hear and those that don't can continue in their ignorance.  Much about the requirement to participate in the rapture is here a little and there a little and in parables that those who don't want to believe and prepare will get left outside when the door is shut.  There is no dispute about a person's salvation here, but the issue is about their being qualified to receive the prize or reward.  Only those who are counted worthy receive rewards.  Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall indeed be saved, but some though as by fire! 

 

In Rev. 22:12, Jesus said: "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."  To all who read this, lay aside every sin and weight that hinders your righteousness, and if you haven't received the Holy Ghost since you believed, then be honest in that area and get serious about being baptized in the Holy Ghost while there is still time.  

 

 

David Robinson