5.What is true of us who are following the Spirit of God

We by faith are waiting in hope, through the Spirit, for the promised righteousness.

The expression, "waiting for the hope of righteousness by faith" deserves thoughtful consideration.

We know we are without condemnation now (Romans 8:1). However, the expression "the hope of righteousness" points toward the future.

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God is a vision of the future. We need to be reminded of this every once in a while. When we see the tremendous troubles that are coming on the world we are to look up, for our redemption is drawing near. Redemption is in the future. What we have now is an "earnest," a down payment, a guarantee of the fullness yet to come.

The Kingdom of God is near. It is soon to come to the earth. It is a new age of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit of God. Our response to the Good News of the coming Kingdom is to believe in Christ, to repent of our sins and disobedience, and to be baptized in water as a sign of our acceptance of Christ as our Lord and Saviour.

When Jesus comes in His Kingdom we either will be saved to participate in the new righteous world, or we will be required to go out into darkness, being prevented from entering the joys of the new age.

This is what Paul meant by "the hope of righteousness by faith." We hope that if we receive Christ, repent, are baptized in water, and then follow the Holy Spirit each day of our pilgrimage, the Lord God will receive us into the Kingdom of righteousness at His coming. We then shall have a righteous spirit, soul, and body. Only Christ can give us these.

Those who are circumcised and return to the Law of Moses are trusting that God will accept them in the Day of the Lord. We who have no confidence in the Law of Moses are trusting that our faith in Christ will cause us to be accepted by the Lord in the Day that is near to come.