Mat_5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
Persecuted- unjustly punished for Christ, He is righteousness.
If any person is ever persecuted because of their belief, their faith in Christ Jesus their Savior, the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
It really says a lot, doesn't it?
How often do people allow themselves to be punished unjustly? They quickly stand up and rail against their punishment, crying out its unfairness, its wrongness. And then there are those who rather than be punished reject their Savior. They keep themselves from being persecuted by giving up righteousness that can only be found in Christ.
Is it any wonder that those who keep to their faith in Christ Jesus even though they are unjustly beaten, tortured, even killed, are given the kingdom of heaven? They are given Christ Jesus because they LIVE for Christ Jesus!
It is easy for us to say we live for Christ when our lives are untouched by any sort of persecution. How many people make light of their convictions, joke about their beliefs, choose to regulate their religion to something they are in passing, a faith to put on a form when asked yet nothing more. To be punished unjustly for your faith in Christ Jesus, can you honestly say this has ever happened to you? We know for a fact it happens all around the world, but in my own life, I can't say that I've ever truly been persecuted for my belief in Jesus Christ.
I can comprehend that those who are persecuted for Christ Jesus receiving the kingdom of heaven because faith such as that- to endure unjust punishment for Jesus Christ deserves the reward of heaven.
Please Lord, help us to stand fast and firm in our faith in You no matter what! We may never feel the sting of unjust punishment for our faith in You and Your Righteousness, but should the time come when we are in that situation, please be our strength, keep us in YOU ALWAYS, in ALL WAYS!
All by YOUR amazing love, Lord! All by YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS may we live now and in eternity all in YOU!
*******
Persecuted.
Dictionary Webster 1828-
PERSECUTED, pp. Harassed by troubles or punishments unjustly inflicted, particularly for religious opinions.
Unjustly harassed, unjustly punished for righteousness' sake.
What is righteousness?
Again, let's go to the old Webster's dictionary -
Righteousness
RIGHTEOUSNESS, n. ri'chusness.
1. Purity of heart and rectitude of life; conformity of heart and life to the divine law. Righteousness, as used in Scripture and theology, in which it is chiefly used, is nearly equivalent to holiness, comprehending holy principles and affections of heart, and conformity of life to the divine law. It includes all we call justice, honesty and virtue, with holy affections; in short, it is true religion.
2. Applied to God, the perfection or holiness of his nature; exact rectitude; faithfulness.
3. The active and passive obedience of Christ, by which the law of God is fulfilled. Dan 9.
Dan 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
Dan 9:4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that LOVE HIM, and to them that KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS;
Dan 9:5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
Dan 9:6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
Dan 9:7 O Lord, RIGHTEOUSNESS belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
Dan 9:8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.
Dan 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
Dan 9:10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
Dan 9:11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
Dan 9:12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.
Dan 9:13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.
Dan 9:14 Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.
Dan 9:15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
Dan 9:16 O Lord, according to all thy RITGHTEOUSNESS, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
Dan 9:17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.
Dan 9:18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
Dan 9:19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.
Dan 9:20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;
Dan 9:21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
Dan 9:22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
Dan 9:23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
The Lord our righteousness. Jer 23.
Jer 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
Isa 45:24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come…'
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption
2Co 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
2Pe 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ
*******
Persecuted- unjustly punished for Christ, He is righteousness.
If any person is ever persecuted because of their belief, their faith in Christ Jesus their Savior, the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
It really says a lot, doesn't it?
How often do people allow themselves to be punished unjustly? They quickly stand up and rail against their punishment, crying out its unfairness, its wrongness. And then there are those who rather than be punished reject their Savior. They keep themselves from being persecuted by giving up righteousness that can only be found in Christ.
Is it any wonder that those who keep to their faith in Christ Jesus even though they are unjustly beaten, tortured, even killed, are given the kingdom of heaven? They are given Christ Jesus because they LIVE for Christ Jesus!
It is easy for us to say we live for Christ when our lives are untouched by any sort of persecution. How many people make light of their convictions, joke about their beliefs, choose to regulate their religion to something they are in passing, a faith to put on a form when asked yet nothing more. To be punished unjustly for your faith in Christ Jesus, can you honestly say this has ever happened to you? We know for a fact it happens all around the world, but in my own life, I can't say that I've ever truly been persecuted for my belief in Jesus Christ.
I can comprehend that those who are persecuted for Christ Jesus receiving the kingdom of heaven because faith such as that- to endure unjust punishment for Jesus Christ deserves the reward of heaven.
Please Lord, help us to stand fast and firm in our faith in You no matter what! We may never feel the sting of unjust punishment for our faith in You and Your Righteousness, but should the time come when we are in that situation, please be our strength, keep us in YOU ALWAYS, in ALL WAYS!
All by YOUR amazing love, Lord! All by YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS may we live now and in eternity all in YOU!
*******
Persecuted.
Dictionary Webster 1828-
PERSECUTED, pp. Harassed by troubles or punishments unjustly inflicted, particularly for religious opinions.
Unjustly harassed, unjustly punished for righteousness' sake.
What is righteousness?
Again, let's go to the old Webster's dictionary -
Righteousness
RIGHTEOUSNESS, n. ri'chusness.
1. Purity of heart and rectitude of life; conformity of heart and life to the divine law. Righteousness, as used in Scripture and theology, in which it is chiefly used, is nearly equivalent to holiness, comprehending holy principles and affections of heart, and conformity of life to the divine law. It includes all we call justice, honesty and virtue, with holy affections; in short, it is true religion.
2. Applied to God, the perfection or holiness of his nature; exact rectitude; faithfulness.
3. The active and passive obedience of Christ, by which the law of God is fulfilled. Dan 9.
Dan 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
Dan 9:4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that LOVE HIM, and to them that KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS;
Dan 9:5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
Dan 9:6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
Dan 9:7 O Lord, RIGHTEOUSNESS belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
Dan 9:8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.
Dan 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
Dan 9:10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
Dan 9:11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
Dan 9:12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.
Dan 9:13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.
Dan 9:14 Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.
Dan 9:15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
Dan 9:16 O Lord, according to all thy RITGHTEOUSNESS, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
Dan 9:17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.
Dan 9:18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
Dan 9:19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.
Dan 9:20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;
Dan 9:21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
Dan 9:22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
Dan 9:23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
The Lord our righteousness. Jer 23.
Jer 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
Isa 45:24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come…'
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption
2Co 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
2Pe 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ
*******
No comments:
Post a Comment