Romans 10:3—HOW DO WE KNOW WE HAVE INDEED SUBMITTED TO GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS?

Romans 10:3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

HOW DO WE KNOW WE HAVE INDEED SUBMITTED TO GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS?

The journey of submitting to God’s righteousness is an ongoing one, guided by the teachings of the Spirit. As we progress, we come to realize our submission through a subtle transformation: our attitude, disposition, and motives harmonize with those of Christ, our Savior.

Before delving into the implications of this alignment with Christ, let me share an illustrative revelation. This example holds significant importance as it distinguishes whether we are operating within our inherent nature, often referred to as the flesh. Our understanding of the Scriptures underscores that the flesh leads to spiritual stagnation. True possession of Christ’s life, the new nature within, remains unattainable if our thoughts predominantly gravitate toward our inherent nature. In such circumstances, the claims of being saved by grace through faith lose their validity. Our predicament mirrors that of the Pharisees, who boasted of their lineage from Abraham. Oblivious to their spiritual reality, Christ’s words in John 8:44 resonate: “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires…”

During the earlier stages of my faith journey, I possessed and still maintain an inquisitive spirit. One question that I sincerely asked God was, “How can I distinguish my alignment with You from succumbing to the influence of the adversary?” God, in His wisdom, welcomes such inquiries, recognizing the authenticity of our intentions. He understands that our quest is not to evade responsibility or seek shortcuts but to genuinely understand His will and ways. Our aspiration is far removed from attempting to strike bargains or exploit His grace, nor is it an endeavor to lead a complacent existence on Earth while anticipating salvation in the hereafter. Rather, through this inquisitive spirit, He taught me a crucial facet of the word of God which is” seeking God diligently” which involves pondering, questioning, and meditating particularly as we immerse ourselves in His Word.

From that juncture onward, He taught me it is important to always revisit pivotal narratives such as those of Adam and Eve and, most profoundly, of Christ. These comparisons serve as illuminating mirrors, reflecting aspects of my own life journey. A profound lesson imparted to me was the significance of observing the contrasting reactions exhibited by them toward God’s plans. One aligned harmoniously with God’s divine intentions, while the other veered off course. This discernment emphasized to me that God’s desire transcends mere external displays of righteousness, which can be superficial and hollow. Authentic righteousness, from His perspective, delves deeper, reaching into the very core of our being.

By extension, it became evident that merely professing to possess Christ’s righteousness is insufficient. The passage of decades as a follower of Christ ought to be accompanied by a spiritual trajectory that testifies to this transformation. A disconnect arises if one proclaims alignment with Christ’s righteousness while the spiritual journey remains stagnant, void of meaningful growth or signs of genuine progress.

God’s profound teachings found their embodiment in the example of those who grappled with limited understanding and struggled with ignorance regarding His intentions. Their journey revealed stark contrasts in their comprehension, as well as the absence of spiritual maturation. As I embarked on the journey of comparison, seeking clarity on whether I was residing within the confines of my fleshly nature or embracing the transformative potential of my new nature, a remarkable revelation emerged. It became apparent that within the recesses of my being, I could discern the echoes of Christ’s mindset—the very consciousness that shaped His interactions with God.

In a particular instance, the Spirit taught me to a profound truth: Christ’s unwavering agreement with God’s divine decree. When God communicated to Christ His imminent departure from heavenly realms to assume humility amidst humanity and eventually endure the cross, Christ’s response was devoid of dispute. The Spirit made me understand further, unveiling the intricacies of Christ’s disposition and attitude towards the Father. His resolute acceptance of God’s will and overarching plan was strikingly evident. Remarkably, Christ refrained from questioning why He needed to undertake this mission when God possessed the power to will salvation into existence instantaneously. This profound contrast came into sharper focus as I revisited the account of Adam and Eve. Their divergence from God’s will was not confined to succumbing to mere temptation; rather, they ventured beyond enticement, transgressing against God’s purpose and design. This exploration into the depths of human responses to God’s will underscores the significance of alignment. It brought to light the essence of humility, obedience, and surrender—a posture beautifully exemplified by Christ and divergently portrayed by Adam and Eve.

Turning our attention to the attitude and disposition of the Pharisees toward Christ unveils a significant perspective. Their inability to perceive the broader context due to their preoccupation with self-conceit served as a lens distorting their vision. In their arrogance, they positioned themselves as self-sufficient, deeming Christ’s teachings unnecessary for their enlightenment. Their prideful stance hindered them from embracing the profound truths He imparted. Instead of seeking spiritual growth and understanding, their focus gravitated toward avoidance—eschewing the teachings they found displeasing or contradictory to their existing beliefs.

This reflection leads us to introspect on our own attitudes. A telltale sign of righteousness not taking root within us emerges when the mere suggestion of aligning our lives with God prompts resistance. This resistance is evidenced by our reflexive defensiveness, as we manufacture a repertoire of excuses to vindicate our perception that our self-fashioned version of salvation suffices. The genuine manifestation of God’s righteousness is obscured when we find ourselves trapped in a cycle of redundant assertions. This repetition becomes a stark indicator of spiritual stagnation. Meanwhile, the sands of time continue to slip through our grasp. Amidst this contemplation, a disconcerting reality emerges from the passage of decades on our Christian journey yielding scant evidence of transformation. Our repository holds a handful of Bible verses, while mere lip service prevails. This sobering realization prompts us to confront the urgency of authentic spiritual progress, lest we unwittingly mirror the unfruitfulness of the Pharisees.

Observing the landscape of social media, it becomes apparent that certain leaders hold the belief that their growth is marked by enhanced storytelling prowess within their preaching. Yet, delving deeper reveals a more profound truth: the adversary himself is a masterful orator—one granted the privilege of wielding persuasive speech. He possesses an intimate familiarity with prayer, a command over the word of God across languages and verses, and he is not averse to participating in church and ministry activities. However, his essence remains resolutely unchanged—Satan endures as Satan.

This realization paves the way for a critical understanding: genuine comprehension of God’s word extends beyond superficial mastery. It encompasses an intimate familiarity with His character, leaving an indelible impression of awe and reverence. God assumes the role of the ultimate benchmark by which we assess our own spiritual stature. Through this lens, our notions of salvation inevitably fall short, an inevitable consequence of the profound disparity between our limited human perspectives and the loftiness of His divine wisdom.

In the light of these revelations, I encountered the profound insight contained within John 7:17. The Spirit of God taught me, our lack of profound understanding is rooted in a reluctance to pursue such knowledge. A candid introspection of our hearts reveals this undeniable reality. Moreover, a parallel understanding emerged: individuals who have spent years entrenched in this mindset—content with a surface-level assertion of salvation by grace—become increasingly resistant to deeper truths. The hardness of their hearts becomes palpable, making it a more arduous task to reach those who perpetually reside within this static paradigm.

Submitting to God’s righteousness entails harmonizing your thoughts, actions, and intentions with the moral rectitude and justice defined by the word of God. Below, you’ll find a set of overarching principles that can be relevant:

1. Understanding God’s Will: Study and reflect on the word of God, His teachings, and principles to gain a deeper understanding of what the word of God considers righteous and just. Pay close attention to what He wants from us.
2. Prayer and Reflection: Daily, engage in prayer, meditation, and contemplation to connect to God, seek His guidance on how to please Him while living in accordance with His righteousness.
3. Integrity and Honesty: Practice honesty and integrity in your interactions with others. Strive to be truthful, ethical, and just in your personal and professional life.
4. Compassion and Charity: Show kindness, compassion, and generosity to those in need. Engage in acts of charity and service to contribute positively to your community and help those who are less fortunate.
5. Humility: Cultivate humility by acknowledging your limitations and recognizing that you are not the ultimate authority in this life. This involves acknowledging your dependence on God and being open to learning and growing spiritually.
6. Avoiding Sin: Make a conscious effort to avoid behaviors or actions that go against your faith’s moral principles. This might involve refraining from actions such as lying, stealing, cheating, and engaging in harmful behaviors.
7. Seeking Forgiveness: When you make mistakes or transgressions, seek forgiveness through sincere repentance.
8. Seeking Guidance: If you are unsure about a particular decision or action, seek guidance from religious leaders, or mentors.
9. Striving for Personal Growth: Continuously work on your spiritual growth and development. This involves cultivating virtues such as patience, gratitude, love, and self-discipline.
10. Cultivating a Relationship with God: Focus on developing a personal and meaningful relationship with God. Make it your priority in life. This will help you gain a deeper understanding of God’s righteousness and how it relates to your life.

It holds significant importance to recognize that God desires from each of us an earnest effort, to demonstrate our love for Him by aspiring to align our lives with His purpose. However, this pursuit is not confined to a mere checklist of prescribed actions and restrictions. True authenticity emerges when your intentions find favor with Him and your relationship with Him becomes paramount. Should your willingness be sincere, and your devotion to Him becomes your central focus, you’ll soon witness a transformative phenomenon. The Holy Spirit takes the reins of your life, effectively relinquishing your hold on control. A particularly cherished aspect of my initial journey was realizing that, as I committed to embracing His desires entirely, His intervention manifested almost instantaneously. It was akin to navigating a manual vehicle uphill, only to experience an abrupt transition to an automatic mode—where I found myself comfortably seated as the Spirit of God Himself directed the course.

The analogy is reminiscent of God’s command to Adam and Eve regarding the forbidden tree. His aim was not to establish arbitrary rules, but to test their willingness to align with His will. As you showcase that your innermost aspirations revolve around executing His divine plan and seeking His pleasure, a remarkable transformation occurs. The Holy Spirit assumes dominance, animating your life. It’s a moment of epiphany where the essence of “saved by grace” comes alive. His grace doesn’t just act in you and for you, but it instills an inherent inclination to embrace His desires.

This transition showcases the true essence of His grace—now palpable within you. It’s a realization that underscores the depth of His divine assistance. Through His grace, your desires find harmonious resonance with His, leading you to comprehend the profound reality of living in accordance with His purpose. These elements serve as evidence that you are genuinely living a righteous life, surpassing even the righteousness exhibited by the Pharisees.

BIBLE VERSES

Romans 8:6 “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

John 7:17 “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”

Proverbs 8:17 “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.”

Matthew 5:20 “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”