Article of Faith: Paul’s Hope Of Righteousness, By Femi Aribisala Femi Aribisala - 1 min ago CHRISTIANITY, COLUMNS, FAITH, OPINION Why is it that armed- robbers, pen-robbers, rapists, murderers and all sorts of evil men claim to be Christians? Have you ever wondered why Christians, supposedly followers of Jesus; the most righteous man that ever lived, are not known for righteousness? On the contrary, Christians organised the Inquisition and burnt thousands of people at the stakes. Christians went on crusades and slaughtered the innocent. Christians killed over six million Jews in Germany. Christians divorce our wives. Priests rape young boys. Pastors devour widows’ houses. Why is it that armed-robbers, pen- robbers, rapists, murderers and all sorts of evil men claim to be Christians? Unrighteous church One man is principally responsible for this anomaly; and that man is Paul. Paul’s message permits us to remain sinners as Christians. He entices us with the fallacy that no one is righteous. (Romans 3:10). He ensnares us with the falsehood that God justifies sinners. ( Romans 4:5). He says deceptively: “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them.” ( 2 Corinthians 5:19). But God can never be reconciled to our trespasses. In short, Paul lulls Christians into erroneously believing we can remain in our trespasses by faith, without losing our salvation. Jesus’ message, however, is not at all reassuring for Christians who continue in sin. Unlike Paul, Jesus indicates the world will not be reconciled to God. (Matthew 24:3-14/37-44). He maintains categorically a sinner cannot be justified unless he repents: “Those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” ( Luke 13:4-5). Paul says those who are in Christ “wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” ( Galatians 5:5). But what does that mean in practical terms? We are not so much waiting for righteousness, which would be pathetic enough; we are waiting for its “hope.” Thereby, Paul puts Christians in a holding pattern, waiting for the righteousness of Jesus to be imparted on us. But when exactly will this righteousness rain down on us? More importantly, what are we while we are waiting? Are we righteous or are we unrighteous? The fruit is self-evident. In the churches of Paul, “there is none righteous; no not one.” ( Romans 3:10). Hopeless righteousness The righteousness of Paul is a vain hope; a pie in the sky that has not materialised in 2000 years. Paul says: “The creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God.” ( Romans 8:19). But are we supposed to be children of God now or shall we be his children at some undisclosed future date? Unlike Paul, John is unequivocal: “Beloved, NOW we are children of God.” ( 1 John 3:2). Paul says: “We are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” ( Romans 8:24-25). But exactly how can a man be saved by hope? Did God save the Israelites from Egypt by hope, or did he take them out of Egypt? Are we saved from Babylon by hope, or are we to come out of her now? John says: “I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. ( Revelation 18:4). Blind salvation
Posted on: Sun, 14 Jul 2013 13:50:30 +0000
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