Not For Righteousness but Because of Righteousness

I am beginning to see the Light of Grace. As I read over John 14-16 and the discourse of the Holy Spirit that Jesus gave to help us understand the dispensation of the HS in this day and time of the Gentiles…The Time we live in. He was letting us know how we should operate her in the world as His disciples as His ambassadors. This great revelation of Grace and the Gift of Righteousness that we have received that man is not justified by the keeping of the law…that Men are made right before God because of the finished work of the cross and as we lay hold of that truth by faith be become the “righteousness of God in Christ Jesus” (2 Cor. 5:21)

Back to the gospel of John. The disciples are pretty dull at this time not saying that I am somehow enlightened..I am not. Jesus was trying to make clear to these guys the succession of events that were to transpire…namely (the betrayal, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. These things must happen in order for the promise to come. My theology has been some backwards, so pharisaical, so performance based that I actually believed that the move of God was dependant of my righteousness (my being and doing those actions and attitudes that were pleasing to God) i.e. if I preached a message on a particular sunday morning and people got saved it was God yes that saved them but I did my part…God did His part and I do my part right? Thus if God didn’t move it was because of a failure on my behalf…I didn’t do my part! Man how messed up and have been. That is the Old covenant way of thinking! Here is my simple declaration that I hope will continue to help me shape my belief system and theology about the work and ministry of Jesus through the Holy Spirit as it pertains to you and me (the Church)
Jesus said: If you love me you will keep my commandments (John 14:15) His commandments are pretty simple…”Love one another as I have loved you” I get tripped up on the “keep commandments” part. My mind automatically jumps into performance mode.. Righteousness becomes a big DO…rather than the Finished work which is a big DONE!.
I can’t live the abundant live if I’m working “FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS” the abundant life and the Joy Jesus spoke of…”you joy will be made full” comes as I work “BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS” the same is true as it’s been said the church is not fighting “FOR VICTORY” were fighting “FROM VICTORY” the same principle applies to righteousness. With the gift of Righteousness and the gift of the Holy Spirit and the fact that I am completely totally utterly saved, redeemed, Righteous before the Father through the Cross that my motivation and purpose begins to evolve. I can join Jesus in building his kingdom as He did here on earth… The Pressure is off to be righteous..I already am! As a result I can work “BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS” and not “FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS” or to become righteous and thus pleasing to God and in return see the move and the power of God unleashed on this World, through the body of Christ and the preaching of the gospel.
(Jhn 14:12-15, 20-21, 23, 26-29 NASB) “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. … “In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” … Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. … “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. “You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. “Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.