of righteousness and faith

Which attribute or characteristic of God, that you have read about in the sessions do you most appreciate? Which one makes you feel perhaps a bit fearful, confused or feeling negative in some way? Explain.

It is the righteousness of God which I most appreciate. In much the same way that I have an awesome appreciation for the talents, gifts and abilities of others that I do not share, I am forced to fall face down at the righteousness of God, which seems so far from me. I must constantly raise my voice in union with Saint Paul, echoing his cry, “ O wretched man that I am; For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate; that I do.” It is the righteousness of God that contrasts my own sin nature and exposes the experiential suffering of war that exists between the flesh and the mind, “for I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind.” Not having my own righteousness has created in me a “hunger and thirst” that cannot be satisfied by my own works, and so I praise God that He is faithful when He says that I “shall be filled” and “never thirst” because through faith in Christ I am filled with the “righteousness which is from God.”

Scripture references (NKJV) Philippians 3:9, Romans 7:15, 22-24, Matthew 5:6, John 4:14

When I ponder the secret life I have lived and the acts performed that are manifestations of my vile sinful flesh, I am sickened. I am cut to pieces by His “two-edged sword” when I considered that all things are “naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” With my “eyes opened” to omniscience of God I want to run and hide myself from his presence, but I cannot hide from God. As a result of God knowing the depths of my heart I have feared the coming judgement and could not “raise my eyes to heaven” as I cried to God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Even in fear of his omniscience I find hope and praise Him and His faithfulness knowing that I can “come boldly to the throne of grace and obtain mercy” because the High Priest sympathises with our weakness.

Scripture references (NKJV) Genesis 3:7-8, Luke 18:13, Hebrews 4:12-13,15-16