#4.26 REPENT AFTER BELIEVING IN JESUS 5

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Introduction 4.26
#4.26 Righteousness has to be Sought for
#4.28 Righteousness has to be learned
#4.30 Righteousness has to be Waited for

Introduction 4.26

This is a bible study showing that righteousness has to be sought for, has to be learned, and waited for. This section is for those people who believe that past sins are automatically forgiven when we become believers in Jesus Christ, or those others who believe that sins are removed from our heart when we are water baptized. If the devil can deceive us into believing either of these errors, then he will be able to prevent us from seeking for the cleansing that is so necessary to enable us to overcome sin in our own lives. He will also be able to keep us from being healed sometimes, deceive us in other areas, and keep us living without the manifestation of the real spiritual power of God in our lives. The fact that forgiveness of all sins is a PROMISE has already been shown (See #2), and all promises can be asked for and received by faith when we believe in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20; Matthew 7:7-11; Mark 11:23-24). This does not mean that they are immediately manifested.

#4.26 Righteousness Has To Be Sought For

PSALMS 24:5-6 (David)
5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of those who seek him, that seek your face, O Jacob. Selah.

ZEPHANIAH 2:3
3 Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, who have done his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be you shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.

MATTHEW 5:6 (Jesus)
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

MATTHEW 6:33 (Jesus)
33 But you seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.

GALATIANS 2:17 (Paul)
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

Note: Obviously, if righteousness has to be sought for when we become believers, and Jesus said this to his disciples (Matthew 6:33), then we cannot be righteous in a manifested sense when we first believe in Jesus. When we seek "to be justified by Christ" (Galatians 2:17), it means "seeking to become righteous through Christ in us."

#4.28 Righteousness Has To Be Learned

PSALMS 119:7
7 I will praise you with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned your righteous judgments.

PROVERBS 2:1-9 (Solomon)
1 My son, If you will receive my words, and hide my commandments with you;
2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;
3 Yes, if you cry after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding;
4 If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures;
5 Then you shall understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
7 He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to those who walk uprightly.
8 He keeps the paths of judgments, and preserves the way of his saints.
9 Then you shall understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yes, every good path.

ISAIAH 26:9
9 With my soul have I desired you in the night; yes, with my spirit within me will I seek you early: for when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

ROMANS 1:16-17 (Paul)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For in it is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:34 (Paul)
34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 (Paul)
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works.

Note: These scriptures show that righteousness has to be learned through the scriptures. This is obviously a slow process after we become believers in Jesus and proves that we are not righteous in a manifested sense when we first believe.

#4.30 Righteousness Has To Be Waited For

GALATIANS 5:5 (Paul)
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

Note: How could Paul the apostle be waiting for "the hope of righteousness", if we are righteous when first believe? If righteousness is a hope, as Paul said here, then it cannot be seen:

(Romans 8:24-25) "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, what does he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then we do with patience wait for it."

This being so, then it is impossible for righteousness to be manifested when we first believe, or when we get baptized in water.

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