Righteousness - EP1

Episode 1: Righteousness

In this opening episode, we dive deep into the meaning of righteousness, not just as a concept, but as a way of life. What does it truly mean to be righteous before God? How do we pursue righteousness in a world that celebrates compromise? This episode explores biblical foundations, practical applications, and the spiritual mindset needed to walk uprightly every day.

Transcript

Jonathan: Ever feel like when it comes to this whole righteousness thing, there's gotta be more to it than we're usually taught? Yeah, like maybe some key truths are getting overlooked. That's what got me so interested in this book. Seven Overlooked Truths about Righteousness in Christ.

Cassie: Oh, yeah.

Jonathan: It's written for Christians, you know, who are already pretty solid in their faith.

Cassie: Okay.

Jonathan: But it claims to uncover some pretty surprising stuff.

Cassie: It really does jump right in.

Jonathan: Yeah.

Cassie: The first truth it tackles is that simply believing in Jesus doesn't automatically equal you living a righteous life.

Jonathan: Okay. I can see how someone might initially think. Wait, hold on. Isn't that the whole point?

Cassie: Right.

Jonathan: But then the book uses this really clever analogy about baking a cake.

Cassie: Right? It says just having all the ingredients, you know, flour, sugar, eggs. That doesn't magically produce a cake.

Jonathan: Right.

Cassie: You need the recipe and you need the process of actually baking it.

Jonathan: So believing in Jesus is like having the ingredients, but it's actively following God's recipe, God's guidelines, living, that produces true righteousness.

Cassie: Exactly. It's like we talk about being justified by faith, Right? Like declared right in God's eyes. But this book goes deeper into what it means to actually live out ut that justification.

Jonathan: Okay.

Cassie: It's an ongoing process, not a one time event.

Jonathan: That makes sense. But how does this book say we actually bake the cake, so to speak?

Cassie: Yeah.

Jonathan: What's step one in this recipe for righteousness?

Cassie: Well, the next overlooked truth it highlights is this whole idea of seeking God's kingdom first.

Jonathan: Okay.

Cassie: And this is where things get really practical.

Jonathan: Okay.

Cassie: It's not just about having faith. It's about aligning every single aspect of our lives with God's ways.

Jonathan: So not just Sunday morning stuff, but like, how we handle our finances, our relationships, even our reactions when things go wrong.

Cassie: Absolutely. The book gives examples like choosing to control your anger instead of just lashing out. Yeah. Or making family time a priority over optional church events.

Jonathan: Wow.

Cassie: Even if it raises eyebrows, it's about those daily choices that reflect a heart truly seeking God's kingdom above all else.

Jonathan: That's challenging though.

Cassie: It is.

Jonathan: Sometimes it feels like the world pulls us in so many directions and we're just trying to keep up.

Cassie: Yeah.

Jonathan: How does this book say we can stay focused on seeking God's kingdom amidst all the chaos?

Cassie: One key practice the book emphasizes is intentionally reading the Bible.

Jonathan: Okay.

Cassie: Not just for inspiration or comfort, but for specific instructions on how to live.

Jonathan: Like a hymnbook almost.

Cassie: It even quotes that verse about the devil's believing in God but trembling Implying that true faith isn't passive. It requires action aligned with God's word.

Jonathan: Okay, so that brings up the whole works debate. Is this book saying we have to earn our salvation by doing good deeds?

Cassie: Not at all.

Jonathan: Okay.

Cassie: It's more about the idea that genuine faith naturally produces actions aligned with God's will.

Jonathan: Okay.

Cassie: It's not about checking boxes or trying to impress God. It's about allowing our transformed hearts to overflow into right actions.

Jonathan: So if it's not about rule following, how does this book say we can differentiate between true righteousness and just going.

Cassie: Through the motion that leads us to the next overlooked truth?

Jonathan: Okay.

Cassie: Righteousness is continual, exceeding the outward obedience of. Of the Pharisees.

Jonathan: Right.

Cassie: It's about a heart change that goes deeper than simply knowing the rules.

Jonathan: I get it. Like, you can know all the traffic laws, but that doesn't make you a good driver if you're weaving through traffic and running red lights when you think you can get away with it.

Cassie: Right.

Jonathan: It's about more than just knowing the rules.

Cassie: Exactly.

Jonathan: It's about a heart that wants to do what's right even when no one's watching. Exactly.

Cassie: It's like the difference between someone who just avoids breaking the law to stay out of trouble.

Jonathan: Yeah.

Cassie: And someone who genuinely desires to live a life of integrity and honor.

Jonathan: Oh, wow.

Cassie: It's a different motivation entirely.

Jonathan: That's a great point. I'm really starting to see the depth this book is going for.

Cassie: Yeah.

Jonathan: It's not just about surface level Christianity. It's about something much deeper.

Cassie: It definitely challenges us to go beyond simply knowing the right answers.

Jonathan: Yeah.

Cassie: And asks, how are we actually living out our faith in the everyday moments, you know?

Jonathan: Yeah. So we're talking about genuine heart change, you know, versus just outward obedience. But how does this book explain the relationship between, like, being declared righteous by God justified and actually living a righteous life?

Cassie: That's where it gets really interesting. The book really dives into the difference between our position before God, which is secured through Christ, and the ongoing process of becoming more like him.

Jonathan: I remember hearing a song once and it said something like, a saint is just a sinner who fell down and got back up.

Cassie: Yeah.

Jonathan: Is that kind of what this book is getting at?

Cassie: It's similar, but the book actually points to the original proverb, which says, a just man falleth seven times and riseth up again.

Jonathan: Okay.

Cassie: The emphasis is on the just man. Someone who is declared righteous but still faces challenges and makes mistakes.

Jonathan: So it's not about never messing up. It's about getting Back up and continuing to move towards God even when we stumble.

Cassie: Exactly. And to illustrate this, the book uses this powerful analogy. A scale ranging from negative 10 to positive 10.

Jonathan: Okay?

Cassie: Imagine Satan is at negative 10 and God is at positive 10.

Jonathan: Okay.

Cassie: When humanity sinned, we started sliding down that scale away from God.

Jonathan: Okay? I'm visualizing this. We're on the slippery slope and heading further and further away from God.

Cassie: And the book argues that no matter how hard we tried, we couldn't climb back up on our own. We were stuck in the negative, unable to bridge that gap to God.

Jonathan: That's where Jesus comes in. Right. He's the bridge that makes it possible for us to connect with God again.

Cassie: Precisely. He becomes the zero point on the scale.

Jonathan: Right.

Cassie: But here's the key. He doesn't automatically catapult us to a positive 10.

Jonathan: Right.

Cassie: He creates the possibility for us to move from a negative state to a neutral state where we're declared righteous, justified because of his sacrifice.

Jonathan: So we're no longer condemned, but we still have the whole positive side of the scale to explore. It's up to us to choose to move towards God.

Cassie: Right. It's like he unlocks the door to a whole new level, but we have to actually walk through it. And that's where the Holy Spirit comes in. Think of it like a video game.

Jonathan: Okay.

Cassie: Jesus gives us access to the next level, but it's the Holy Spirit who equips us with the power ups we need to face the challenges and progress.

Jonathan: I love that analogy. It really highlights our active role in this journey. Yeah, we're not just passive passengers. We have to engage and make choices that move us closer to God.

Cassie: And this leads to the final and perhaps most challenging overlooked truth, that we are often our own biggest obstacle to righteousness.

Jonathan: Wait, so you're saying w e e are often the reason we don't grow closer to God? I wrestle with that. How does the source back that up?

Cassie: The book argues that it's our disobedience to God's word that becomes the stumbling block. It's like hitting a speed bump, a jarring wake up call that we've veered off course.

Jonathan: That's a challenging thought. It makes you take a hard look at your own life, doesn't it? Like, are there areas where I'm ignoring what God is telling me even when I know better?

Cassie: Right. And I think this is where it's crucial to remember that God's word isn't meant to condemn us. It's meant to guide us back to the right Path. Those speed bumps are actually signs of his love nudging us back towards where we need to be.

Jonathan: That's a really encouraging perspective. It's not about beating ourselves up for our mistakes. It's about recognizing them, learning from them, and allowing God to redirect us. But this whole idea of being our own stumbling block raises a question for me. If we have the Holy Spirit as our guide, why do we still struggle so much with making the right choices?

Cassie: Well, remember that video game analogy?

Jonathan: Yeah.

Cassie: Even with the power ups, the player still has to actively use them to progress.

Jonathan: Right.

Cassie: The Holy Spirit empowers us, but we still have to choose to cooperate with him and walk in obedience.

Jonathan: So it's not about trying to be perfect. It's about learning to depend on the Holy Spirit and making choices that align with his leading. And that's a lifelong process, right?

Cassie: Absolutely. It's a journey, not a destination. And along the way, we're bound to make mistakes and hit those speed bumps. But the key is to view them as opportunities for growth and learning, not as reasons to give up.

Jonathan: It's funny, we talk about righteousness all the time, you know, at church.

Cassie: Yeah.

Jonathan: But I don't think I ever really thought about the practical side of it the way this book does. You know, it's really made me think about what it actually looks like to live this out every day.

Cassie: I agree. It's easy to get caught up in the theological concepts.

Jonathan: Yeah.

Cassie: But this book really brings it down to earth and challenges us to examine how our faith is really impacting our choices and, you know, our actions.

Jonathan: And one thing that really got me thinking was that idea of being our own stumbling block. It's humbling, but I think it's something we all need to think about.

Cassie: Definitely. It forces us to own our choices.

Jonathan: Yeah.

Cassie: You know?

Jonathan: Yeah.

Cassie: And recognize that sometimes we're the ones getting in the way of our own growth.

Jonathan: It's like we try to blame the devil for our bad habits or like our lack of progress. But maybe we need to look in the mirror and say, hey, maybe I'm the one who needs to change.

Cassie: Right. It's about recognizing those patterns in our lives, those moments where we keep choosing to ignore what God's telling us or give in to temptation.

Jonathan: Yeah.

Cassie: And asking ourselves, why am I doing this? What's holding me back?

Jonathan: So if we're the ones getting in our own way, how do we break free from those patterns and actually start making progress?

Cassie: Well, the book reminds us that we're not alone. We have the Holy Spirit, you know, as our guide and helper. And we have the word of God to show us the way. It's about learning to rely on those resources and making choices that line up with what God's showing us.

Jonathan: Okay, but like, what does that actually look like? This book talked about seeking God's kingdom first. Does that mean we have to, quote, quit our jobs and become missionaries?

Cassie: Not necessarily. I think it's more about changing our perspective.

Jonathan: Okay.

Cassie: Making God's priorities our priorities in every area. It could be as simple as choosing to be honest in our business, even when it's hard, or putting family time first instead of chasing another promotion.

Jonathan: So it's about those everyday choices, you know, those little decisions that show what we really care about.

Cassie: Exactly. And it's about recognizing when we're tempted to put our own desires above what God wants and asking, what would it look like to see God's kingdom first in this moment?

Jonathan: You know, at the beginning, this book said that a lot of pastors don't teach these truths. Yeah, it's a bold statement.

Cassie: It is.

Jonathan: But the more we've talked about this stuff, the more I'm starting to get why the author might say that.

Cassie: It is thought provoking. And it's not necessarily saying pastors are doing something wrong, but maybe just shows that sometimes we as a church get comfortable with, like, a surface level understanding of faith.

Jonathan: Right. It's easier to focus on the feel good parts of Christianity than to wrestle with the messy parts of actually living it out. Yeah, but maybe that's where the real growth happens.

Cassie: Absolutely. It's in those moments of struggle and questioning that our faith gets stronger, you know, and our character is shaped. It's not about having all the answers.

Jonathan: Right.

Cassie: It's about humbly seeking God and letting him transform us.

Jonathan: This has been so eye opening. I'm so glad we had this conversation.

Cassie: Me too.

Jonathan: As we wrap up, what's one last thought you'd like to leave with our listeners?

Cassie: I think it comes down to this. Righteousness isn't something we achieve. It's a journey. It's about continually seeking God, letting His Word shape us, and relying on the Holy Spirit. It's okay to stumble.

Jonathan: Yeah.

Cassie: We just have to keep getting back up, keep learning and keep moving towards God.

Jonathan: I love that. And if you're feeling inspired to go deeper, you know, the book we've been talking about, Seven Overlooked Truths about Righteousness in Christ, is worth a read.

Cassie: It is.

Jonathan: It's full of insights and challenges that can help anyone no matter where they are. On their faith journey.

Cassie: Definitely.

Jonathan: Thanks for joining us on this deep dive.

Cassie: Thanks for having me.

Jonathan: And be sure to tune in next time, because who knows what hidden truths we'll uncover.