Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

1Pet.3:13 Now who is he who will harm you, if you become imitators of that which is good? 3:14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "Don't fear what they fear, neither be troubled."{Isaiah 8:12}

Let us understand suffering for righteousness sake is not suffering for self-righteousness there is a vast difference do you know why? Christ is our righteousness, we are not our righteousness, we have no righteousness without Christ Jesus giving us merit in the eyes of God. We are sinners, and because Christ gave us his life he bought us from our sins into his his sinless life giving us a righteous standing with God. We suffer than for Christ righteousness in us, as we live in him by faith.

1Cor.1:30 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:

In Christ righteousness we fear not because he has finished what we could not finish in our own righteousness God's judgment of us. When God looks at the blood of the pass-over lamb he pass-over our deserved judgment. When Christian's are filled with Christ righteousness they produce fruit for God, not themselves in justifying themselves as obeying laws of the land, or laws of their religion, or man's laws. On the other hand, neither are they law breakers because the righteousness of Christ in them compels them into all righteousness of doing good works.

Titus 3:1 Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 3:2 to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men. 3:3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 3:4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, 3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

Obedient by the law of love harms no one, hence, the laws of the land are kept because those laws protect harm from neighbor. But a Christian's does not be come self-righteous in keeping those laws in judgment towards those that don't they remain in Christ being freely forgiven they own sin undeservedly by God's great mercy and kindness.

Rom. 13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 13:9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not give false testimony," "You shall not covet,"{TR adds "You shall not give false testimony,"}{Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deuteronomy 5:17-19,21} and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."{Leviticus 19:18} 13:10 Love doesn't harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

Many Christian's and non-Christian alike become self-righteous in obeying a rule or a law in judging other very harshly, but true believers have been set free of the works of our flesh, and its sin, in Christ, they walk no longer by laws judging the wicked, but instead by the laws for those made righteous by Christ Jesus blood. They live in Christ righteousness where the law of love is supreme, and freedom of sin has been conquered for them by Christ Jesus own perfect life. They do good toward all men as the Spirit in them is good towards all men and woman no matter country or nationality, for its is the living Spirit of God, the God of peace.

Ecclesiastes 7:16 Don't be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

Ecclesiastes 7:20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth, who does good and doesn't sin.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

See also: www.nu-truth.com