8.The Righteousness Of Faith - Zac Poonen
Kakinada Meetings - 2014
Summary
The sermon contrasts the Old and New Covenants, emphasizing that obedience in the New Covenant stems from love, not fear or reward. The central message stresses that true faith is not based on intellectual understanding but on heart-level trust in the Lord, as exemplified by the poor and simple. To access spiritual truths, one must cultivate humility, recognizing that cleverness and intelligence, if coupled with pride, can become barriers to understanding God's word.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Trust in the Lord with all your heartProverbs teaches us to trust the Lord with our heart rather than depending on our own human understanding.
Spiritual truths hidden from the wiseJesus praised the Father for hiding spiritual truths from the clever and intelligent while revealing them to humble babes.Matthew 11:25
The danger of wealth and intelligenceIt is difficult for rich and clever people to enter the kingdom of God because their possessions and intellect often make them proud.Mark 10:23
Entering through the needle's eyeJust as an ameba can pass through a needle's eye because of its microscopic size, we must become small in our own eyes to enter God's kingdom.
Overcoming sin through divine graceSin is a mighty force like gravity pulling us down, and God only pushes humble people forward from behind with His sustaining grace.
The limited righteousness of the PhariseesWhile Jesus acknowledged that the Pharisees had correct doctrines and clean external lives, their righteousness was entirely on the outside.
A righteousness greater than the scribesJesus declared that our righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees to enter the kingdom of heaven.Matthew 5:20
Counting external righteousness as rubbishPaul considered his former blameless external righteousness under the law as rubbish in order to gain Christ through faith.Philippians 3:6–8
Job' covenant with his eyesJob demonstrated deep personal godliness by making a covenant with his eyes not to lust after women.
Freedom from trust in wealthDespite being exceedingly rich, Job did not place his confidence in gold or become proud of his wealth.
The empowering work of the Holy SpiritOnly the Holy Spirit can transform our inner lives from outward failure to the true righteousness of the New Covenant.
