God has promised us some beautiful things in His word, but so many believers are not receiving God’s promises. Instead of His promise of peace, anxiety is present. Instead of His financial and health provision, they are struggling to pay bills, and pain and sickness are weighing them down. Instead of joy, depression has them in a tight hold. They feel like they are not good enough to receive all of those wonderful things, but that’s a lie! The truth is all of God’s promises are for all of God’s people. So, what is stopping believers from receiving good from God?
I mentioned that the feeling of not being good enough to receive from God keeps us from His promises, I understand and I’ve felt that way too. However, just like the journey I took at Bible College, this blog post will guide you to a place of assurance that you are good enough to receive from God. This will all come through just one truth!
So let’s get into it.
Where does that feeling of not being good enough to receive come from? It comes from the Bible. I know what you’re thinking. “Wait, but you just said God has promised us good things in His word.” They are both right. Let’s look closer.
You’re not under the law
Deuteronomy 28:2 shows us how God’s promises were conditional. The promises were conditional based on the people’s obedience to follow the laws that were given to Moses. Not just the ten commandments, but all 613 laws. Verse 15 highlights the negative side of this condition – they would be cursed if they did not follow those laws.
2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God:…15 But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you.
Deuteronomy 28:2, 15
Therefore it is correct that under the Old Covenant, people would receive from God based on their obedience to the law. However, Galatians 3:13 tells us that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. Meaning, Jesus has now fulfilled the law for us and we can now receive God’s promises based on Jesus’ obedience. Praise God!
We are no longer under pressure to get our walk with the Lord perfectly right before we can receive from Him. No. God desires for us to freely walk in His promises of peace, hope, health, joy, and financial blessings.
Now that we have established the foundation that we are not obligated to do good, in order to receive good, let’s look at who we have become.
Made Righteous
If you are part of the Word & Freedom community, you may notice how often this verse comes up. It’s because it is so foundational to our faith.
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21
As well as Jesus freeing us from having to follow 613 laws, He also took our sins and exchanged them with His righteousness. This happened the moment you received Jesus into your heart and became born again. Take a moment to think back to that moment you received Jesus – were you first required to transform your life in order to receive His salvation? No. You approached Him just as you were and He gave you the gift of salvation. The same way you received Christ, is the same way you are encouraged to walk out every part of your walk with the Lord (Colossians 2:6). Just as you didn’t do anything to earn salvation, you also did nothing to earn righteousness. It was simply a gift given to you.
You are now the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. I’m sure you’re wondering “Where exactly is this righteousness because I don’t feel it?” You won’t feel it. It’s in your born-again Spirit. Your spirit is perfect, holy and righteous. It’s a truth that you simply choose to believe. (For more on this read about spirit, soul and body in What Does It Mean to Have Identity in Christ?).
Receive God’s promises based on your new righteousness
You see, God gives good things to those who are righteous. Because Jesus has now given you a righteous foundation, you can receive those good things. It’s no longer about what you do, it’s about what Jesus has done for you and within you.
Through this post, I pray your heart is beginning to believe that you no longer have to earn God’s best. I pray that your fear of not being good enough to receive, is torn down as you read. And I pray that you will know that all of this is because you are now righteous.
Understanding our new righteousness is an ongoing journey. It doesn’t end here. So, why not take this teaching even further, by reading The Number 1 Way to Obtain God’s Promises. (There, you’ll also find a freebie I created for you).
So, head to the blog post and you’ll come to know that through Jesus, you are good enough to receive God’s promises, and you’ll no longer feel held back from receiving good from God.