Servants of Righteousness

"Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." (Romans 6:18)

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver

When a person is baptize in Jesus Christ they are baptized into His death (Rom 6:3) wherein "He died unto sin once" (Rom 6:10). Therefore anyone "buried with Him by baptism into death" have also died unto sin. This being the case, the apostle raises a valid question: "how shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (Rom 6:2). Furthermore, "if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him" (Rom 6:8). Christ is alive for evermore and those that are planted together in the likeness of His death, shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection (Rom 6:4). That is, they have been risen to walk in newness of life; even life God-ward or "unto God" (Rom 6:10,11).

The crucifixion of the old man and the destruction of the body of sin has put us in a condition wherein "we should not serve sin" any longer (Rom 6:6). For the believer, sin is wrong, out of order and unexpected. Sin is no longer the norm for this person. This does not mean that they will never sin again but rather that they do not have to. They are no longer slaves to sin. They are justly charged with the commission, "let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body," as it once did, "that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin; but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead" (Rom 6:12-13). The grace of God is up to this task. It will teach believers to say "no" to ungodliness and worldly lusts. Thus, it is imperative that they draw near to its throne - the throne of grace - that they might find mercy and grace to help (Heb 4:16).

Believers have been delivered from the reign that sin had over them. But this does not mean that they are not servants at all. "Know ye not," Paul reasons, "that to whom ye yield yourselves...his servants ye are" (Rom 6:16). Therefore, "being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."

This phrase "servants of righteousness" is most intriguing. It may be unfamiliar language in our day but every believer knows the experience of being a servant of righteousness. Being a servant of righteousness is being bound, by inward compulsion, to do the right thing regardless of possible consequences, regardless of fleshly preference and without consideration of self-preservation in this world. It is truly hard, for a servant of righteousness, to kick against the pricks of the Holy Spirit. In short, a servant of righteousness is one who denies himself and takes up his cross daily to follow Jesus. He is willing, after the inner man, to sacrifice worldly gain and the pleasures of sin because "it is right" to obey God.

Peter and John were servants of righteousness. They were inwardly compelled, as though bound, to do the right thing. Though the rulers of the day "commanded [them] not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus" (Acts 4:18) they continued right on preaching. Their words expressed their experience.

Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. (Acts 4:19-20)

The spirit of faith within them made the word of Christ as a fire shut up in their bones and they were weary of keeping it in. It is not that they were unwilling to preach or that they felt forced to, but they had become servants of righteousness and were compelled to serve the Lord even if it lead to their persecution. Peter went from denying the Lord to confessing Him before men because he became the servant of righteousness.

The churches of Macedonia are another example of servants of righteousness. For, "in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality" (2 Cor 8:2). These churches, according to their ability and beyond their ability, were willing to give themselves first the Lord and then to the people of God. Though they were poor, they gave great gifts to the churches of Judea. Why? They became the servants of righteousness.

The servants of righteousness will appear strange, even foolish, in the eyes of men. They do things in consideration of God rather than themselves. They do, in fact, seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Mt 6:33). They "suffer for righteousness' sake" (1 Pet 3:14). They "do not merely look out for [their] own interests, but also for the interests of others" (Php 2:4, NASB). Though their decisions may not be fiscally responsible or self-gratifying they are righteous. This is normal for the followers of Christ. For, they have become "the servants of righteousness."

The Lamb Slain from the Foundation of the World

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver

"...and all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev 13:8)

"The Lamb" is heaven's view of Jesus. Twenty six times Jesus is referred to as "the Lamb" in the Revelation. Only two other times in Scripture is He directly called "the Lamb" and both times John the baptist calls Him "the Lamb of God" (Jn 1:29,36). From an earthly perspective no one would ever conclude that Jesus is "the Lamb of God." This is something that must be revealed to them. It is, however, the heavenly perspective of Jesus. It is as though all of heaven saw "the Word" that was with God (Jn 1:1) and when He was given to the world as God's sacrifice for sin, He would then be known as "the Lamb of God."

The Slain Lamb. The significance of the lamb is not that it depicts a quiet, docile creature but that it is a sacrifice. The vision that John was shown is one of "a lamb standing as it had been slain" (Rev 5:6), that is, it was killed as a sacrifice for sin. This is what was meant by John the baptist when he declared, "Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (Jn 1:29).

Jesus is God's offering for sin. While He was "delivered into the hands of sinful men" and "crucified" (Lk 24:7), it was God who was "pleased...to bruise Him" (Isa 53:10). Like the scapegoat under the Law, God "laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isa 53:6). It was then, "in His body on the tree" (1 Pet 2:24) that God, through His Lamb, made an end of sin  (Dan 9:24). God judged and condemned sin in the flesh of Jesus (Rom 8:3). He cursed His Son in order to deliver us from the curse we inherited by breaking the Law (Gal 3:13). This Lamb, unlike any other lamb, was willing to "make His soul an offering for sin" (Isa 53:10) and therefore "justify many" by bearing their iniquities (Isa 53:11). He is the Lamb "slain" from the foundation of the world.

From the Foundation of the World. The sacrifice of Christ was the means through which God would reconcile the world unto Himself (2 Cor 5:19). God, in an effort to show His manifold wisdom to principalities and powers in heavenly places (Eph 3:10), determined to bring salvation to men by His own arm (Isa 63:5). In other words, God was not surprised when Jesus was "taken, and by wicked hands...crucified and slain," because it all accord by "the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God" (Acts 2:23). Jesus was chosen for this very purpose. He was given as a ransom for sin.

God used the Law to teach men about sacrifice and about sin and about acceptance with Him. He was readying the people of the sacrifice of His Lamb. He was showing them the price of sin and the intricacies involved in atonement and the putting away of sin. He did this because "once in the end of the world" the Lamb of God would appear "to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself" (Heb 9:26).

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot; who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (1 Peter 1:18-21) 

God is not reacting in salvation; He is carrying out His eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Eph 3:11). He is working all things together for good to them that love God (Rom 8:28), whether those things be the ministry of John the baptist, the betrayal of Judas or the judgment of Pontius Pilate, He is working all things after the "counsel of His own will" (Eph 1:11).

Conclusion. From before God laid the foundations of the world, He had determined to send "His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin" in order to "condemn sin in the flesh" (Rom 8:3). But God would not leave His Son, in view of this great sacrifice, without the recompense of reward. For Jesus, knowing that the Father would not despise or forsake Him forever, but would return to Him the glory which He had before the world was, confessed, "Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world" (Jn 17:24). God's love for His Son is being displayed throughout all creation now, and for evermore.

His reward would include an inheritance like none other. It would involve the Lamb seeing "His seed" and the Father "prolonging His days" and "the pleasure of the Lord" prospering in His hand (Isa 53:10). The Father would "divide Him a portion with the great" and "He shall divide the spoil with the strong because He hath poured out His soul unto death" (Isa 53:12). As a result of His humility and obedience unto death and the cross, God "also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" (Php 2:8-11). "Ask of Me" the Father says to the Son, "and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession" (Ps 2:8).

To be sure, Christ's sacrifice was great and did not go unnoticed. Let every creature which is in heaven and in earth and under the earth shout aloud, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing" (Rev 5:12).

The Midnight Cry

"And at midnight there was a cry made, 'Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him'" (Mt 25:6).

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver

The certainty of the great and glorious day of the Lord is a sobering consideration. There are "secret things" associated with that day as well as "things revealed" (Deut 29:29). The secret things include the day and the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh. For "of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only" (Mt 24:36). That being the case, the things revealed are of great interest to us. Let us consider those things for it is the business of every man to be prepared to meet their God (Amos 4:12) on that day.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins. In teaching His disciples about His return Jesus spoke to them a parable about ten virgins awaiting a bridegroom (Mt 25:1-13). Five of the virgins were wise by bringing extra oil for their lamps. Five of the virgins were foolish taking their lamps but taking no oil with them. The bridegroom postponed his coming until midnight and the foolish virgins ran out of oil. Then, suddenly, they heard a cry, "behold, the bridegroom cometh." Finding themselves wanting, they went to buy more oil but "the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage and the door was shut" (Mt 25:10). Those foolish virgins found themselves on the outside of the marriage supper. It was too late. No entrance would be granted them. They would spend the rest of their time away from his presence, no doubt regretting their foolish decision making.

Jesus is that Bridegroom and men are those virgins. We know that the Bridegroom is coming and we must be ready Him. Salvation provides us with all the necessary supplies to be ready. It is incumbent upon believers to live by faith and patience until His return and that which is committed unto them. His coming will be as "a thief in the night" (1 Th 5:2; 2 Pet 3:10) and we, therefore, must always be prepared. For if we are not ready on that last day nothing else really matters.

There Will be a "Cry." When the Lord Jesus returns there will not be, as some suppose, a "secret rapture" where many are mysteriously missing leaving everyone else confused. That teaching is simply theological fiction produced to sell books. The Scripture declares that all of creation will be in audience when "the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God" (1 Th 4:16). No one will miss this event. "Every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him" (Rev 1:7). The Bridegroom will not come without a great announcement. He will come with a cry, even a shout!

Have Your Lamps Trimmed. Everyone will give an account to the Lord for the deeds done in the body (2 Cor 5:10). Make it your aim to give a good account. All those who are prepared to meet Him are hastening that day. The "glorious appearing of the great God and [their] Savior Jesus Christ" is their "blessed hope" (Tit 2:13). They long to hear that "last trump"(1 Cor 15:52) when "the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (2 Pet 3:10). They rejoice in this because they themselves will rise above this inferno being "caught up together" with all those who are asleep in Jesus. There they will "meet the Lord in the air" (1 Th 4:17). This is the hope that stabilizes the soul causing it not to waver. For everyone who has this hope in themselves purifies himself even as He is pure (1 Jn 3:3). In that day everything that the saints of God have longed for and waited for will be theirs. Namely, their inheritance as it is written, "so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Th 4:17).

The Peril of Being Unprepared. Those who are not prepared, who have ran out of oil, will weep in that day. The day of the Lord is a day of reckoning where the scales of justice will be balanced. It is a day when God will repay every man according to their works, their labor and their faith. Those who are storing up wrath for themselves now (Rom 2:5) will taste of it then.

Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you, and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9)

It will not end well for anyone who is surprised when He comes. All of this life is preparatory for eternity. Anyone who neglected salvation; anyone who despised Christ; anyone who caused harm to His saints; anyone who did not obey the gospel but considered it foolishness will find themselves as the fools in that day. They will find that the Lord will not allow men to forsake His Son and get away with it. They will seek the mercy of death but will not find it.

And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the might men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;" for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:14-17)

The Lord is Patient. Those who are unprepared now can, and must, consider every day that the Lord tarries His coming as a day of salvation. Each day is another day to repent. If they examine themselves and find that they will not be "found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless" then they can "account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation" (2 Pet 3:14-15) knowing that He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet 3:9).

Now is the day to repent and escape the wrath to come. Make the most of the opportunity. Separate yourself from this perverse generation. Seek the Lord in a time when He may be found. The day of the Lord is coming. The bridegroom is coming. When you hear that midnight cry let it be for you a time of rejoicing. Let it be said by you in that day, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation" (Isa 25:9). Be dressed in readiness, brethren. "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh" (Mt 25:13).