Jesus says (Matthew 5:20)

“…For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The Pharisees we’re perfect (outwardly) according to the law (which is what Jesus is talking about here, obedience to the law). How could anyone’s righteousness exceed perfection? This must have been a bit discouraging and confusing to the crowd. Jesus then goes on to “crank up” the requirements of the law, making it even MORE difficult!

Paul said this (Philippians 3:4-12)

“If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more : circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish [dung, B.S.!], in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”

I love this thought. Any striving on our own to become worthy of righteousness is B.S.

Jesus has made us his own, and that is the reason God considers us righteous.

And you know what? That inspires me to want to love the people around me (and everything else the law says we ought to do.)

The following are my notes from Dave Bovenmyer’s sermon at Stonebrook Church on extended time in prayer.

[...]

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” ~Matthew 5:43-45

“…but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” ~Romans 5:8-11

Isn’t God’s love amazing?

What is the right thing for a powerful, righteous king to do to his enemies? Destroy them, right? Purify the land. Keep his loyal subjects safe…

Can you imagine Jesus, in the comfort and glory of heaven, agreeing together with the father that the right thing to do for His enemies is to be destroyed their place?

It’s a wonderful thing that God, in His love and sovereignty decided this too. We were His enemies, in danger of that destruction. But God loves YOU… He LOVES you… so much that He’d do the dying for us.

What does he ask of us? To act like him. To be “sons of your father”.

Who do you consider as your enemy? Do you love them?