Manifesting true righteousness through obedience to Christ

Manifesting true righteousness through obedience to Christ

Romans 6:16 presents a profound concept: "Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness." 

This verse is intriguing, and many people miss the peculiarity of it. Take a look at what it says. One is either a servant of sin, which leads to death, or a servant of obedience, which leads to righteousness. You might be persuaded to interpret the verse saying that one is either a servant of sin leading to death or a servant of righteousness leading to life. However, this interpretation is contrary to what Paul taught. Let me explain. Although Paul, as pertaining to the old covenant  said, "For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them", Rom.10:5, and to the Galatians he said, "for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law", look what he said pertaining to our grace doctrine, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.  (21)  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.", Gal 2:20-21. You see, Paul didn't say that you serve sin unto death or righteousness unto life; there's something else you have to obey, and its obedience. But what does that mean?

Romans 5:19 tells us: "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." 

When Paul discusses obedience, we must understand that it is not through our own efforts. Many people, after believing, immediately attempt to live righteously, trying to adhere to a list of laws: —Do this, —do not do that, yet this is still an attempt to establish one's own righteousness. Consider what Paul stated in Romans 6:17: "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you."

In Romans 6:17, Paul says, although you were once servants of sin, you have now obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine. Here, Paul defines this obedience as a form of doctrine, indicating that there exists a specific doctrine that we must obey from the heart in order to manifest righteousness. This doctrine concerns the obedience of Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5 states, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" This passage illustrates that righteousness is achieved when our mind is renewed, when our mind is trained to bring every thought into submission to the obedience of Jesus Christ. Do not dismiss the possibility of this being attainable; it's indeed possible when you immerse yourself in the scriptures. Paul proclaimed that our spiritual weapons are powerful through God for the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations, and every lofty thing that sets itself against the knowledge of God. By capturing every thought to obey Christ, we aim for the ultimate goal, the mark, the prize of truly knowing Him and thus manifesting His righteousness.