Created in Righteousness
The new man is created in righteousness and true holiness. The old man is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. The old man can, in no way, produce the righteousness of the new man. He is created in righteousness by God.
Every believer has the new man from the day of his salvation. But he may not realize this. If he doesn’t put off that old man and begin to let the new man grow up, he is going to be a frustrated Christian.
When you put off the old man and start living the life of the new man who is created in righteousness, here’s what you will find. You’ll find yourself:
Being Right – 2 Cor 5:21 we are made the righteousness of God in him. Before you can do anything right, you have to be right. The Lord starts with the person before anything else.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. We have to be a new creature before all things become new.
Thinking Right – Prov 12:5 the thoughts of the righteous are right. Once you are right, you must start thinking right. If your mind doesn’t change, neither will your actions. Prov 23:7, For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. 1 Cor 2:16, We have the mind of Christ. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, Phil 2:5.
Many Christians who falter in their life try to do right without first thinking right. They portray righteousness with their actions hoping that no one will notice that they aren’t living right.
Doing Right – 1 Jn 2:29, If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that everyone that doeth righteousness is born of him. 1 Jn 3:7, he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
Once you are right and you start thinking right, then your actions are going to change. Everything emanates from the inside out. Matt 23:26, cleanse first that which his within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Talking Right – Prov 10:32 the lips of the righteous know what is acceptable. You won’t have to carefully craft what you say to sound right and make you look spiritual. You will speak what is acceptable to God, supernaturally.
Matt 12:34, Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. You can tell whether you’re speaking hypocrisy to impress people with your knowledge or whether you are speaking from a heart that is right with God. Prov 13:5 A righteous man hateth lying.
Conclusion: Above all, be right. Get saved. And when you’re saved, think right. From right thinking will come right doing. And from right thinking and doing will come right talking. This is how it is with those who are created in righteousness.