For a moment, consider what God says about righteousness.
“Do not be unequally bound together with unbelievers [do not make mismatched alliances with them, inconsistent with your faith]; For what partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and Beliai (Satan)? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said.”
[2 Corinthians 6:14-15]
In these rhetorical questions, the answer(s) are obvious – NONE. With God we have partnership, fellowship, harmony, common, agreement since WE are the temple of the living God. Righteousness can not coexist with unrighteousness. So to be in relationship we need to be in the condition of being righteous. But are we? Not of ourselves, according to Isaiah:
“For we all have become like one who is [ceremonially] unclean [like a leper], And all our deeds of righteousness are like filthy rags…
[Isaiah 64:4a]
The Message Bible says this a bit more graphic: “We’re all sin-infected, sin-contaminated. Our best efforts are grease-stained rags.” Goodness, our condition is critical. But there is hope. I believe that The Father knew our frailties, our weaknesses and planned ahead to provide us our path to righteousness.
“He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].” [2 Corinthians 5:21]
The bottom line is that God made a way for His creation to be righteous and be in relationship. Actually, the only remaining issue is for His creation to maintain this. Since we aren’t able we have the promise in 1 John 1:9 that when we do sin, when we confess to Him, we will cleanse and restore us. Personally, this is where I apply the 70 times 7 scripture.
Relationship is only one of the gifts Jesus brought with Himself when He became our Savior. Part of this gifting relates to the condition of Relationship. n my world relationship is crucial each and every day. I want (need) it to be personal and intimate. I do not want a relationship that is only defined when I am in crisis mode. Returning to 2 Corinthians:
“I will dwell among them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. So come out from among unbelievers and be separate,” says the Lord, ‘And do not touch what is unclean; And I will graciously receive you and welcome you [with favor], And I will be a Father to you, And you will be My sons and daughters,’ Says the Lord Almighty.
[2 Corinthians 6:16-18]
When we consider how God views righteousness and relationship, and that it is He who reconciles and brings us back into relationship. The point – what is our response?
