born to afflict what is righteous (Ga 5:17)

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Ps 34:19 (ESV)

In a world bound under sin,

bound under the dominion Adam and Eve gave to Satan,

there is no one who is righteous, no one (Rm 3:9).

Being conceived in iniquity and brought forth in sin, no one enters this world righteous (Ps 51:5).

In fact, we are born hostile to all that is righteous, born to afflict what is righteous (Ga 5:17).

So what is righteous and righteousness,

must come from outside this world, outside us.

To us in our need,

God sent His only Son into the world to be the propitiation for our sins (1 Jn 4:9-10).

God sent His Son into our world,

into our bondage to sin,

into the dominion of Satan,

and into verdict of God’s Law against us,

To be the payment that bought us out of our bondage to sin

and bought us the eternal favor of God the Father.

As our Savior, He has come to be for us,

as He was named,

“The Lord our righteousness” (Jr 23:6, 33:16).

United to the Son of God in our baptism,

The great exchange takes place by the grace of God through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Our unrighteousness is so united to Christ that we are set free from it.

Christ righteousness is so united to us that we are born again totally in His righteousness.

And now we live a new life in His righteousness.

Being united to Christ and receiving His righteousness,

We have also received the hostility and hatred of Satan, the unrighteous and our own sinful nature.

Many and often will be our afflictions as the righteous,

they shall not cease until our Lord calls us from the battlefield.

The glorious promise given to us

even though our afflictions and troubles be infinite in number, peculiar in nature, and heavy in weight,

the Lord shall deliver us out of them all.

For in all these things, we have been more than conquerors  through Christ who loves us (Rm 8:36).

Having delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us into His kingdom (Co. 1:13),

The Son of God gives this twofold promise  to those whom He has saved through faith,

To those whom He daily purifies from all unrighteousness,

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  Jn 16:33 (ESV)

pmwl