Reigning Through Righteousness

Reigning Through Righteousness

By Apostle Felix

17  Death once held us in its grip, and by the blunder of one man, death reigned as king over humanity. But now, how much more are we held in the grip of grace and continue reigning as kings in life, enjoying our regal freedom through the gift of perfect righteousness in the one and only Jesus, the Messiah! 

Romans 5: 17

First and foremost, let us look at the dangers of erroneous teachings taught in the church. It would be very naive for a child of God to assume that erroneous teachings have not negative impact one’s spiritual life. The challenge the early church had, was the false teachers that had infiltrated the church, propagating false teachings. Apostle Paul’s letters and the others were addressing the heretic teachings the church had received from false teachers.

1  In the past there arose false prophets among God’s people, just as there will continue to be false teachers who will secretly infiltrate in your midst to divide you, bringing with them their destructive heresies. They will even deny the Master, who paid the price for them, bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2  Many will follow immoral lifestyles. Because of these corrupt false teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.

2 Peter 2: 1, 2

The dangers of false teachings is that they produce false brethren, whose lives are held by the grip of death. The first man, Adam received a false teaching from the devil and produced death in him and his wife, Eve. Teaching can only produce after its kind. The teaching from satan to Adam produced death, because sin had entered the word.

12  When Adam sinned, the entire world was affected. Sin entered human experience, and death was the result. And so death followed this sin, casting its shadow over all humanity, because all have sinned. 

Romans 5: 12

Sin entered humanity because man believed in the message that was preached to him by satan. And then death followed sin. So then, the teaching on righteousness will produce life. The kind of message you give your ears to, will either produce life or death. Sin was in the world since the fall of man, but it was not charged against man since there was no law in existence.

13  Sin was in the world before Moses gave the written law, but it was not charged against them where no law existed.

Romans 5: 13

Sin was in the world from Adam, and when the law was given to Moses, sin was made really sinful. Sin was brought to light and man was made conscious of sin. The purpose of the law was to make man realize the sinful state he was brought into by Adam. It was not meant to empower man to overcome sin. But rather, man to be conscious of sin.

20  So then, the law was introduced into God’s plan to bring the reality of human sinfulness out of hiding. And yet, wherever sin increased, there was more than enough of God’s grace to triumph all the more!

Romans 5: 20

You cannot reign in life with sin consciousness mind. The law and its sacrifices and rituals reminded the people of their sinful state. So then, the preaching of the law is not for the benefit of believers. It will only bring about condemnation and that will perpetuate a defeated life. It is not possible for one to be under condemnation and at the same time reigning in life.

1  For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2  For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3  But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 

Hebrews 10: 1 – 3

For this reason, the Son of God was born under the law so that He could set them free who could not save themselves free by observing the law. Christ brought justification through His death and resurrection. He has imputed His righteousness upon you. This righteousness is imputed upon you when you hear the gospel of grace, and by faith believe the message of grace.

18  Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Romans 5: 18