Living a righteous life is a fruit of right believing

Believers in Christ, the devil wants you believing that your right standing before our Heavenly Father is based on what you do or do not do (keeping the law). It's not. Galatians 3:11 says "But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, ..." 

Law keeping to get right with God is also how Christ becomes of no effect in the lives of believers - Galatians 5:4 "For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace."

God sees us as righteous - even when we sin - because His Son took our place on the cross; His righteousness for our sin - 2 Corinthians 5:21. It is a gift.

Believers, the law says "do good; get good" and vice versa. But we are not under law but under grace. Here, we get the good we don't deserve and we don't receive the punishment we deserve, because Christ took our place on the cross.

But God's grace is not a license to sin (people accused Paul of preaching this very thing!). It is the Way to right living. It is the Way to reign in life, according to Romans 5:17- "For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)"

This "receive...the gift of righteousness" is not a one off thing (original Greek version). It is a continuous receiving. Anytime you get bogged down with thoughts like "I'm a sorry excuse for a Christian" or you find yourself doing the opposite of what you really want to do, like Paul at the end of Romans 7 and Romans 8:1, remember that there is no condemnation for you because our Lord Jesus died to the imputation, penalty and judgment of our sins.

Especially in the midst of your sins/trials, confess that you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Remember Romans 10:10 "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Salvation here includes that for your soul as well as deliverance from enemies' molestation and the power, pleasure and penalty of sin!

As you do those things you wish were not part of your life - smoke, be fearful, lose your temper, drink to stupor, watch porn, covet, lust, any sin at all - confess your righteousness in Christ and thank Him for forgiving your sins - past, present and future. Our Lord Jesus loves you to bits still! He came to deliver you from these things, not condemn you (John 3:17).

Grace is more powerful than any sin in your life. More rules and regulations will only result in more sin. "The strength of sin is the law." 1 Corinthians 15:56. The law was not given for us to attain righteousness by. It was given to show us our sin. Galatians 3:19 "Why, then, the Law [what was its purpose]? It was added (after the promise to Abraham, to reveal to people their guilt] because of transgressions [that is, to make people conscious of the sinfulness of sin)..." The law will point out your sin. No one can ever "cast the first stone" by keeping the law.

None can be made righteous by it. But like the Pharisees, some today have watered the law down to a level where it is 'keepable.' In its pristine condition (as Jesus showed it to the Pharisees in Matthew 5) if you as much as look at a woman lustfully, you'd have to pluck out your eyes! But today, not many self-inflicted 'blindings' and amputations occur in churches where believers are being told that their sins make them unrighteous in God's eyes. If you could be righteous by not sinning, then you don't need Jesus!

Right living is not a fruit of right doing, which no one can achieve by their efforts. Right Living is a fruit of right believing - believing that God gave His righteousness to all those who believe in Jesus as a gift. Don't trash it for dead works. RECEIVE IT and you will Live Right without even knowing how! The Holy Spirit will transform you to the life that our Lord God desires for you!

Holiness is a fruit of being righteous by faith. 

Believe Right and you will Live Right!