RIGHTEOUSNESS and JUSTIFICATIONS in Christ Jesus!

“To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” – Proverbs 21:3 NIV

Even though sacrifice is good, we should more focus on the righteousness and justifications of God. This is because we are born again which is by the Holy Spirit, whom God poured into us as our advocate, friend, and guidance to help us in the walk with God (see John 14:15-17,26); if we are born again by the Spirit, then we are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17) and called to be the righteousness of God. This is the reason of Christ’s crucifixion and His resurrection:

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. (1 Peter 2:24-25, Colossians 3:10-12)

Overall, if we keep focusing on the righteousness and justifications of God, or meditate this verse of Matthew 6:33: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” over and over again, then godly-sacrificial desires will automatically come to us, so we can sacrifice our own desires for other people (see Philippians 2:3-4). But MOSTLY we can live as a living sacrifice that is HOLY and PLEASING to God:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)