"Awake to righteousness and stop sinning; for some of you have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame." 1 Corinthians 15:34

Those are indicting words written to the Church by the Apostle Paul. Some were practicing sin and as a result, no longer even knew God! It reminds me of what John wrote -"By this we know we have come to know Him, if we keep His Commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His Commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 1 John 2:3-4

Jesus spoke on the subject of righteousness saying -Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" and "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness."

What is the righteousness of God and how do we obtain it? To be declared righteous one must be judged and justified. This means the deeds of a person’s life are examined and judged. If there is no record of sin they are declared righteous before God. But the problem we all have is we have all sinned and those transgressions have been recorded in Heaven and stand against us. The penalty for even one transgression is death in the Lake of Fire.

There is only one Way provided for any of us to escape this fate and be declared righteous and worthy of eternal life, and that is to confess our sins, turn from practicing them, and receive the righteous life of Jesus. Jesus paid for the sins of humanity on the cross, but you must receive Him as your personal Savior. It is only then that you become justified before the Lord. All your sins will have been washed away and there will no longer remain a record of any sin against you.

After being clothed with the very righteousness of Jesus, we are instructed to walk in it. We must maintain the righteousness we have been given by obeying God’s Commandments and seeking His will in all things. Let us awake to righteousness, stop practicing sin, come to know God more fully by keeping His Commandments, that we may not be ashamed at His appearing.