IS YOUR LIGHT SHINING?

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16 New International Version (NIV) Salt and Light 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. HOW DO THE WORLD RATE CHRISTIANS? Some say good. Some say hypocrites. Some say cheaters. Some say they are the same like us. Some say they are worse than us. Some say have nothing to do with them. Some say they do not have a victorious life. What do you hear the world outside say about Christians? JESUS EXACT WORDS. Matthew 5:20 New International Version (NIV) 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. The Scribes and Pharisees were the custodian of the law and Jesus said our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. How can our Righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees? God has revealed a way: This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3:22). In other words, Jesus, the Righteous One, lived a sinless life and died an atoning death. He now offers His “righteousness” to us by faith, so that we can be “declared righteous” before His throne. ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD. This process of justification by faith goes all the way to Abraham, who “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3, 5, 9; Galatians 3:6). All those, then who believe in Jesus are credited with righteousness and have Abraham as their father (4:11-12). Keeping the Law plays no role in being counted as righteous in His sight (Romans 10:1-10; Galatians 3:21; Philippians 3:9); rather, God’s grace is at work. WE HAVE TO UNDO THE LAW THAT IS ALIVE IN US. Romans 7-5:6 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. CHRISTIANS CAN NEVER LIVE VICTORIOUS UNDER THE LAW.  But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. 9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. WHAT WE HEAR CHRISTIANS DOING IS NOT A SURPRISE. We hear that they see phonographs. We hear Christians living in adultery. We hear Christians cheating. We hear Christians not living a victorious life. We hear Christians speaking bad words. We hear Christians have two characters one in the Church one outside the Church. YOUR LIGHT WILL SURELY SHINE. Those who have been justified by faith have been set free from sin and thus must offer themselves to God “as instruments of righteousness” (Romans 6:11-14). IF YOU ARE SET FREE FROM SIN THAN YOUR LIFE WILL SHINE FOR JESUS. THE SURROUNDING FRIENDS WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT JESUS. IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE A LIFE OF SIN. Those who belong to Jesus hunger and thirst for righteousness. We find God’s will for us described in the inspired Scriptures through which we receive “training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It is impossible for those who have been born of God not to do what is right (1 John 3:7-10). Our Lord said that those who belong to Him “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matthew 5:6). BECAUSE OF JESUS RIGHTEOUSNES,WE ARE MADE RIGHTEOUS. There is also a future aspect to righteousness when God does judge the world by His standard of righteousness (Acts 17:31). On that day of days, we “will reap a harvest of righteousness and peace” (Hebrews 12:11) and thus become fully righteous; this is our Christian hope (Galatians 5:5). YOU HAVE JESUS RIGHTEOUSNESS IMPUTED TO YOU. Righteousness, like salvation, is a gift that we receive from God when we believe. It is a present reality in our lives, and is a future hope toward which we aspire. Does your righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and the Pharisees? CONCLUSION: JESUS GIVES YOU THE STRENGTH TO SHINE. WHEN HE LIVES IN YOU HE GIVES YOU HOPE. HE GIVES YOU PEACE. HE LIVES IN YOU TO HEAL YOUR MORTAL BODY. HE GIVES YOU HIS WISDOM. JUST BELIEVE AND RECEIVE ALL THAT BELONGS TO YOU. BE LIKE ABRAHAM WHO JUST BELIEVED AND GOD CALLED HIM RIGHTEOUS.