BIBLICAL RIGHTEOUSNESS
Below is a word study on the word biblical word "righteousness". The bible has a lot to say about righteousness and what it means to us. We all need to meditate on biblical righteousness.
Psa 51:10 Create a pure heart in me, O God, and put a new and loyal spirit in me.
Strong's Definition of Righteousness: From dike; equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively) -- just, meet, right(-eous)
Note: By definition "righteousness" is innocence in the eyes of God. The opposite is "unrighteousness" and with it guilt – guilt that is by the breaking of Gods law (1Jn_3:4, 1Jn_5:17). When we are called by God to be righteous (Romans 6:13, Mathew 25:46) – we are required to live in innocence - living without offence to God by sin. Since sin comes by breaking Gods law, righteous living then comes by living in harmony with Gods law (1Co_15:34,Rom_6:23, ), not because we are saved by it, but because of condemnation from it when we break it. Thus by following Gods law through the power of His Spirit (Rom_8:4), it can be said that we preserve the gift of righteousness given to us through Jesus Christ – this is truely "abiding" in Christ (Joh_15:10). Those that do not abide in Christ by denying the heart-changing power of Gods Spirit, re-condemn themselves by breaking Gods law, even after claiming salvation in Christ (Rom_6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.).
RIGHTEOUSNESS IS LIFE – UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IS SIN, EVIL AND BRINGS DEATH
Righteousness leads to life and evil is death
Psa 51:2 Wash away all my evil and make me clean from my sin!
1Jn_5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
Psa 51:4 I have sinned against you---only against you--- and done what you consider evil. So you are right in judging me; you are justified in condemning me.
Pro_11:19 So righteousness tends to life; but one pursuing evil, it is to his own death.
Pro_12:28 In the way of righteousness is life, and in that pathway there is no death.
1Jn_3:10 In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the Devil: everyone not practicing righteousness is not of God, also he who does not love his brother.
Note: Righteousness must be a way of life for those who expect to see heaven as thier home, for we were not redeemed unto death and sin, but unto life and righteousness (Rom_6:13, Rom_6:16, Rom_6:18, Rom_6:20). A loving parent, after cleaning thier child up from a pit of filth, would not allow thier child to return to it before entering the house – such is the love of God for us, not permitting such behaviors that make up sin to remain in our hearts and lives, but cleansing us from sin (1Jn_1:7 ) so we are fit to enter heaven and into His presence and community with Him.
TWO KINDS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD
Jesus is our righteousness and sanctification
2Co_5:21 For He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Php_3:9 and be found in Him; not having my own righteousness, which is of the Law, but through the faith of Christ, the righteousness of God by faith,
1Pe_2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that dying to sins, we might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.
1Co_1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption;
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Joh 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Note: Righteousness [From dike; equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively) -- just, meet, right(-eous) ] - is "right-doing". We become righteous, by accepting the righteous life of Christ and it is then credited to us through faith (1Co_1:30)– thus Christ accomplishes for us what we could never do for ourselves (Tit_3:5 ). Additionally, we must then live in righteousness by the power of God (Rom 6:13), obeying Gods will and word, which includes His law, so we will not return to a state of condemnation under the law through sinful living (Rom_8:4).
Jesus is also our sanctification (From hagios; to make holy, i.e. (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate -- hallow, be holy, sanctify. Consecrated and set apart for a holy purpose / ceremonially or morally clean); Jesus is holy, set apart for a holy purpose and without sin, thus as we accept Jesus' life to our credit, we are credited with sanctification (1 Cor 1:30).
However, sanctification differs from justification in the way that while we are "justified" in the sight of God the moment we repent from our sins and when we accept Christ as our personal Saviour - with sanctification, we are to set ourselves apart for His holy purpose for a lifetime and become holy through applying the truth of the word to our lives - this process of learning and applying truth to our lives takes time, thus sanctification is the process of a lifetime1-4.
1 - Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, a day, but of a lifetime. It is not gained by a happy flight of feeling, but is the result of constantly dying to sin, and constantly living for Christ. Wrongs cannot be righted nor reformations wrought in the character by feeble, intermittent efforts. It is only by long, persevering effort, sore discipline, and stern conflict, that we shall overcome. We know not one day how strong will be our conflict the next. So long as Satan reigns, we shall have self to subdue, besetting sins to overcome; so long as life shall last, there will be no stopping place, no point which we can reach and say, I have fully attained. Sanctification is the result of lifelong obedience. {AA 560.3}
2 - "This is the will of God," the apostle Paul wrote, "even your sanctification." 1 Thessalonians 4:3. The sanctification of the church is God's object in all His dealings with His people. He has chosen them from eternity, that they might be holy. He gave His Son to die for them, that they might be sanctified through obedience to the truth, divested of all the littleness of self. From them He requires a personal work, a personal surrender. God can be honored by those who profess to believe in Him, only as they are conformed to His image and controlled by His Spirit. Then, as witnesses for the Saviour, they may make known what divine grace has done for them. {AA 559.3}
3 - In his anxiety that the believers at Thessalonica should walk in the fear of God, the apostle pleaded with them to reveal practical godliness in the daily life. "We beseech you, brethren," he wrote, "and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication." "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." {AA 262.1}
Obedience to the law is righteousness and is necessary to prevent re-condemnation of the Christian by the law through sin
Deu_6:25 And if we are careful to do all this commandment before Jehovah our God, as He has commanded us, it shall be our righteousness.
Rom_8:4 so that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Rom 8:7 And so people become enemies of God when they are controlled by their human nature; for they do not obey God's law, and in fact they cannot obey it.
1Co_15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
Note: The law of God can not save us but it can condemn us: We must maintain and keep the righteousness of Christ by following Gods law as Jesus did as our example; otherwise, we condemn ourselves by sinful living and do not abide or live in Christ (Joh_15:10). Because man does not have the power to change himself or live a righteous life by himself due to his sinful nature that is in rebellion against God (Rom_8:7), He must daily submit himself to Gods will and pray for the power to live an obedient life through the guidance of Gods Spirit (Rom_8:4), only then a new character can be formed for heaven1.
This is where so many fail by false conversion – they claim to accept Christ into thier heart but fail to submit thier will, heart and lives to God by the power of His Spirit and obey His word and commandments; thus they are quickly overtaken by sin and condemned again by the law and are under the penalty of the law, which is death – they are fallen from grace (Hos_14:1 O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.)2
1 - Those who at Pentecost were endued with power from on high, were not thereby freed from further temptation and trial. As they witnessed for truth and righteousness they were repeatedly assailed by the enemy of all truth, who sought to rob them of their Christian experience. They were compelled to strive with all their God-given powers to reach the measure of the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. Daily they prayed for fresh supplies of grace, that they might reach higher and still higher toward perfection. Under the Holy Spirit's working even the weakest, by exercising faith in God, learned to improve their entrusted powers and to become sanctified, refined, and ennobled. As in humility they submitted to the molding influence of the Holy Spirit, they received of the fullness of the Godhead and were fashioned in the likeness of the divine. {AA 49.3}
2 – Notice here that Gods people are described as "fallen" and reason given for this fallen state is "iniquity – iniquity is sin and sin is breaking Gods law.
MAN AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
Two classes of humanity
Rev_22:11 He that is unrighteous, let him do unrighteousness still: and he that is filthy, let him be made filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him do righteousness still: and he that is holy, let him be made holy still.
Note: It is shown here that righteous living is not only possible, but required - for there are only two classes of people when Jesus returns – the righteous saved and the unrighteous lost. This emphatically supports the truth that although a mans works cannot save him – his works are judged and works found to be righteous are evidence of his regenerate heart, saved from the power of sin and his sinful nature, accomplished only by the grace and power of God. 1
1 - All who in that evil day would fearlessly serve God according to the dictates of conscience, will need courage, firmness, and a knowledge of God and His word; for those who are true to God will be persecuted, their motives will be impugned, their best efforts misinterpreted, and their names cast out as evil. Satan will work with all his deceptive power to influence the heart and becloud the understanding, to make evil appear good, and good evil. The stronger and purer the faith of God's people, and the firmer their determination to obey Him, the more fiercely will Satan strive to stir up against them the rage of those who, while claiming to be righteous, trample upon the law of God. It will require the firmest trust, the most heroic purpose, to hold fast the faith once delivered to the saints. {AA 431.1}
The man living by the Spirit of God is contrasted with the man living in his sinful nature
Pro_11:6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but deceivers shall be taken in lust.
Note: The righteousness here is not just mere works – the filthy rags of mankinds self-righteousness. Deliverence from the penalty of the law is what only Christ Jesus can accomplish by His blood. It is the righteousness of Christ joined with the believers faithful obedience to Gods law and will that saves repentant mankind from sin by the power of His Spirit 1 – regarding this, there is no law or condemnation - this is truely abiding in Christ. This righteousness is contrasted with deceitful men who are fallen from righteousness by lust; which is living not by direction of the Holy Spirit, but as they are moved by thier own lust from a sinful nature; thus breaking the law of God.
1 - The office of the Holy Spirit is distinctly specified in the words of Christ: "When He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." John 16:8. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts of sin. If the sinner responds to the quickening influence of the Spirit, he will be brought to repentance and aroused to the importance of obeying the divine requirements. {AA 52.2}
....Having brought conviction of sin, and presented before the mind the standard of righteousness, the Holy Spirit withdraws the affections from the things of this earth and fills the soul with a desire for holiness. "He will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13), the Saviour declared. If men are willing to be molded, there will be brought about a sanctification of the whole being. The Spirit will take the things of God and stamp them on the soul. By His power the way of life will be made so plain that none need err therein. {AA 52.5}
Mans righteousness by his own works can not save him
Tit_3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.
Note: Righteousness is a gift of God, through Jesus Christ His Son, as Jesus is the only provision offered by which mankind may make peace with God. As with the patriarch Abraham, God has provided the peace offering, approved by Himself for Himself, as a token and evidence of His mercy and love for sinners. The true Christian undergoing a true conversion experience will demonstrate the fruits of regeneration by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Man can be righteous
Pro_14:34 Righteousness lifts up a nation, but sin is a shame to any people.
Pro_15:9 The way of the wicked is hateful to Jehovah, but He loves him who pursues righteousness.
Pro_21:21 He who follows after righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor.
Hos_10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground. For it is time to seek Jehovah, until He comes and rains righteousness on you.
Zec_8:8 And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be My people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
Mat_5:6 Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness! For they shall be filled.
Act_10:35 but in every nation he who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him.
Rom_6:16 Do you not know that to whom you yield yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to him whom you obey; whether it is of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness.
Jas_3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
2Pe_2:5 And He did not spare the old world, but saved Noah the eighth one, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.
1Jn_2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who does righteousness has been born of Him.
1Jn_3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as that One is righteous.
Note: The volume of references to righteousness in Gods word is evidence that His word is inspired not by the pen of man, but by the Spirit of God, for man in his rebellion against God and His law can not lift himself to the high standard of righteousness as written in Gods word, and would never condemn himself with contemplating righteousness apart from God. Therefore, it is Godly wisdom that presents righteousness as the standard for the Christian and it is Gods provision by Jesus Christ that makes righteousness possible for mankind.
Those who deny righteousness deny Jesus Christ and His Spirit, for these are the sources of all true righteousness. Righteousness then, originating in God, reflects Gods character and is demonstrated by love, life, mercy, truth, passion and commitment to right-doing, respect for God and one another, obedience to Gods will and His law, peacefulness, witnessing to others, etc. God requires righteousnss from mankind – and because it is required by God, it is possible to obtain through the grace and righteousness of Jesus Christ and the power of the Spirit of God.
Mankind is called to righteousness
Rom_6:13 neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
1Jn_1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
Rom_6:18 Then being made free from sin, you became the slaves of righteousness.
Rom_6:19 I speak in the manner of men because of the weakness of your flesh; for as you have yielded your members as slaves to uncleanness, and to lawless act unto lawless act, even so now yield your members as slaves to righteousness unto holiness.
Mat_5:20 For I say to you that unless your righteousness shall exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
Eph_4:24 And you should put on the new man, who according to God was created in righteousness and true holiness.
Eph_6:14 Therefore stand, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness
Php_1:11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
1Ti_6:11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness.
Note: God is the creator of man in His own image, but because man has enslaved himself into sin by breaking Gods law, God had to purchased man from the penalty of the law by the sacrifice of His son, satifying the penalty of the law for us. So then, man is called by God out of the sin that created his bondage to death and through the workings of the plan of salvation, man is re-created in Gods image, which is holiness, righteousness, truth., etc. By this re-creation, man is to be prepared for reinstatement to his original home with God in heaven, thus restoring man to his original estate. Therefore, we are called to "put on the new man" and to be "instruments" and "slaves" to righteousness, which denies the sinful lifestyle and honors God by obedience to His word and law, through the power of His Spirit.
Righteousness learned by God through His word
2Ti_3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
Note: Gods word is inspired by Himself, thus its principles are as sure and true as Gods character. The inspired word of God is the righteous standard by which mankind is to be judged and is the instrument by which he learns righteousness; thus, man must aquaint himself with its promises, power and requirements to enter into life. God is the God of the living, and His instruction through His word is life-giving - therefore, rejection of His word and its instruction leads to death.
Righteousness obtained by faith
Gal_3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.
Gal_5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness out of faith.
Heb_11:7 By faith Noah, having been warned by God of things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Note: Faith is the vehicle by which we take hold of the promises of God. God promises to create a new heart in us as we seek Him. The new heart that we are given is claimed by faith and given by the power of the Holy Spirit, which without, we can not be changed. This new heart is the Spiritual nature that is given as a gift from God and is available to all that repent from sinful living with a sincere heart and by faith claim the Spirit of life from God. The truely repentant Christian will submit themselves daily to the regenerating power of the Spirit, bearing the fruit of good works that is evidence of thier change of heart in Chist Jesus.
Righteous living is by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit of God
Eph_5:9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
Note: The source of power to change mans sinful nature comes only from God through His Spirit. It is the Spirit that awakens the concience of man to discern spiritual principles and identify sin in all its forms. Obedience and submission to His Spirit brings forth the fruits of the Spirit of which righteousness is associated. Mankind can not be righteous without living under the guidance and influence of Gods Spirit. Those that deny the power of the Spirit deny Gods Ambassador of righteousness and regeneration, without whom none can see heaven.1
1 - Paul knew that his warfare against evil would not end so long as life should last. Ever he realized the need of putting a strict guard upon himself, that earthly desires might not overcome spiritual zeal. With all his power he continued to strive against natural inclinations. Ever he kept before him the ideal to be attained, and this ideal he strove to reach by willing obedience to the law of God. His words, his practices, his passions--all were brought under the control of the Spirit of God. {AA 314.3}
Man can lose righteousness by commiting sin
Eze_3:20 And when the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and when I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.
Eze_18:24 But when the righteous turns from his righteousness and does injustice, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked do, shall he live? All his righteousness that he has done shall not be remembered; in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them he shall die.
Eze_33:18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall even die by them.
2Pe_2:21 For it would have been better for them not to have fully known the way of righteousness, than fully knowing it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
Note: It is very clear that Christian believers who do not live in submission to the will, word and commandments of God, re-condemn themselves by sinful living. Therefore, a true believer must daily submit themselves to the will and word of God, including the decalogue, for it is from the penalty of the decalogue that we are saved by the grace of Jesus – how then can it ever be permissible to sin and claim salvation from that sin which you were saved from? True believers in Christ will pray for not only forgiveness of sin and salvation through faith in Christ, but for power to remove sin from thier lives at the roots.
Gods people will be righteous
1Jn_3:10 In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the Devil: everyone not practicing righteousness is not of God, also he who does not love his brother.
Rev_19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. For the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.
Pro_11:6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but deceivers shall be taken in lust.
Note: In the above verse the children of God are known by thier righteous works – not because they are saved by thier works but because righteousness or "right-doing" is the finger print and signature of the power of Gods Spirit in us.
Reward of the righteous
2Ti_4:8 Now there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that Day; and not to me only, but also to all those who love His appearing.
Note: The wonderful crown of righteousness can only be obtained by righteous living through the power of the Holy Spirit.
THE LAW OF GOD IS RIGHTEOUSNESS
The law of God is righteousness and following Gods law is righteousness
Psa_119:172 My tongue shall speak Your Word, for all Your Commandments are righteousness.
Deu_6:25 And if we are careful to do all this commandment before Jehovah our God, as He has commanded us, it shall be our righteousness.
The law of God is truth
Psa_119:142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your Law is the truth.
REPENTANCE AND CONVERSION
Repentance or turning away from sin is evidence of true conversion of the sinner to a Christian. Repentance is a pre-requisite for conversion.
Act_3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
If a person does not repent or turn away from thier sinful life and be converted they will not receive salvation or heaven.
Mat_18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
The law of God teaches us Gods ways, shows us the need for a Savior and when the sinner repents and accepts Jesus as his Savior – he becomes converted by the power of God
Psa_51:13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
1Ki_3:14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
Conversion takes faith
Luk_22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Conversion is necessary before the forgiveness of sins
Mar_4:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
GRACE AND THE LAW
Grace is not a license to sin, Grace is the power to live without sin
Rom_6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Below is a word study on the word biblical word "righteousness". The bible has a lot to say about righteousness and what it means to us. We all need to meditate on biblical righteousness.
Psa 51:10 Create a pure heart in me, O God, and put a new and loyal spirit in me.
Strong's Definition of Righteousness: From dike; equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively) -- just, meet, right(-eous)
Note: By definition "righteousness" is innocence in the eyes of God. The opposite is "unrighteousness" and with it guilt – guilt that is by the breaking of Gods law (1Jn_3:4, 1Jn_5:17). When we are called by God to be righteous (Romans 6:13, Mathew 25:46) – we are required to live in innocence - living without offence to God by sin. Since sin comes by breaking Gods law, righteous living then comes by living in harmony with Gods law (1Co_15:34,Rom_6:23, ), not because we are saved by it, but because of condemnation from it when we break it. Thus by following Gods law through the power of His Spirit (Rom_8:4), it can be said that we preserve the gift of righteousness given to us through Jesus Christ – this is truely "abiding" in Christ (Joh_15:10). Those that do not abide in Christ by denying the heart-changing power of Gods Spirit, re-condemn themselves by breaking Gods law, even after claiming salvation in Christ (Rom_6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.).
RIGHTEOUSNESS IS LIFE – UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IS SIN, EVIL AND BRINGS DEATH
Righteousness leads to life and evil is death
Psa 51:2 Wash away all my evil and make me clean from my sin!
1Jn_5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
Psa 51:4 I have sinned against you---only against you--- and done what you consider evil. So you are right in judging me; you are justified in condemning me.
Pro_11:19 So righteousness tends to life; but one pursuing evil, it is to his own death.
Pro_12:28 In the way of righteousness is life, and in that pathway there is no death.
1Jn_3:10 In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the Devil: everyone not practicing righteousness is not of God, also he who does not love his brother.
Note: Righteousness must be a way of life for those who expect to see heaven as thier home, for we were not redeemed unto death and sin, but unto life and righteousness (Rom_6:13, Rom_6:16, Rom_6:18, Rom_6:20). A loving parent, after cleaning thier child up from a pit of filth, would not allow thier child to return to it before entering the house – such is the love of God for us, not permitting such behaviors that make up sin to remain in our hearts and lives, but cleansing us from sin (1Jn_1:7 ) so we are fit to enter heaven and into His presence and community with Him.
TWO KINDS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD
Jesus is our righteousness and sanctification
2Co_5:21 For He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Php_3:9 and be found in Him; not having my own righteousness, which is of the Law, but through the faith of Christ, the righteousness of God by faith,
1Pe_2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that dying to sins, we might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.
1Co_1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption;
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Joh 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Note: Righteousness [From dike; equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively) -- just, meet, right(-eous) ] - is "right-doing". We become righteous, by accepting the righteous life of Christ and it is then credited to us through faith (1Co_1:30)– thus Christ accomplishes for us what we could never do for ourselves (Tit_3:5 ). Additionally, we must then live in righteousness by the power of God (Rom 6:13), obeying Gods will and word, which includes His law, so we will not return to a state of condemnation under the law through sinful living (Rom_8:4).
Jesus is also our sanctification (From hagios; to make holy, i.e. (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate -- hallow, be holy, sanctify. Consecrated and set apart for a holy purpose / ceremonially or morally clean); Jesus is holy, set apart for a holy purpose and without sin, thus as we accept Jesus' life to our credit, we are credited with sanctification (1 Cor 1:30).
However, sanctification differs from justification in the way that while we are "justified" in the sight of God the moment we repent from our sins and when we accept Christ as our personal Saviour - with sanctification, we are to set ourselves apart for His holy purpose for a lifetime and become holy through applying the truth of the word to our lives - this process of learning and applying truth to our lives takes time, thus sanctification is the process of a lifetime1-4.
1 - Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, a day, but of a lifetime. It is not gained by a happy flight of feeling, but is the result of constantly dying to sin, and constantly living for Christ. Wrongs cannot be righted nor reformations wrought in the character by feeble, intermittent efforts. It is only by long, persevering effort, sore discipline, and stern conflict, that we shall overcome. We know not one day how strong will be our conflict the next. So long as Satan reigns, we shall have self to subdue, besetting sins to overcome; so long as life shall last, there will be no stopping place, no point which we can reach and say, I have fully attained. Sanctification is the result of lifelong obedience. {AA 560.3}
2 - "This is the will of God," the apostle Paul wrote, "even your sanctification." 1 Thessalonians 4:3. The sanctification of the church is God's object in all His dealings with His people. He has chosen them from eternity, that they might be holy. He gave His Son to die for them, that they might be sanctified through obedience to the truth, divested of all the littleness of self. From them He requires a personal work, a personal surrender. God can be honored by those who profess to believe in Him, only as they are conformed to His image and controlled by His Spirit. Then, as witnesses for the Saviour, they may make known what divine grace has done for them. {AA 559.3}
3 - In his anxiety that the believers at Thessalonica should walk in the fear of God, the apostle pleaded with them to reveal practical godliness in the daily life. "We beseech you, brethren," he wrote, "and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication." "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." {AA 262.1}
Obedience to the law is righteousness and is necessary to prevent re-condemnation of the Christian by the law through sin
Deu_6:25 And if we are careful to do all this commandment before Jehovah our God, as He has commanded us, it shall be our righteousness.
Rom_8:4 so that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Rom 8:7 And so people become enemies of God when they are controlled by their human nature; for they do not obey God's law, and in fact they cannot obey it.
1Co_15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
Note: The law of God can not save us but it can condemn us: We must maintain and keep the righteousness of Christ by following Gods law as Jesus did as our example; otherwise, we condemn ourselves by sinful living and do not abide or live in Christ (Joh_15:10). Because man does not have the power to change himself or live a righteous life by himself due to his sinful nature that is in rebellion against God (Rom_8:7), He must daily submit himself to Gods will and pray for the power to live an obedient life through the guidance of Gods Spirit (Rom_8:4), only then a new character can be formed for heaven1.
This is where so many fail by false conversion – they claim to accept Christ into thier heart but fail to submit thier will, heart and lives to God by the power of His Spirit and obey His word and commandments; thus they are quickly overtaken by sin and condemned again by the law and are under the penalty of the law, which is death – they are fallen from grace (Hos_14:1 O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.)2
1 - Those who at Pentecost were endued with power from on high, were not thereby freed from further temptation and trial. As they witnessed for truth and righteousness they were repeatedly assailed by the enemy of all truth, who sought to rob them of their Christian experience. They were compelled to strive with all their God-given powers to reach the measure of the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. Daily they prayed for fresh supplies of grace, that they might reach higher and still higher toward perfection. Under the Holy Spirit's working even the weakest, by exercising faith in God, learned to improve their entrusted powers and to become sanctified, refined, and ennobled. As in humility they submitted to the molding influence of the Holy Spirit, they received of the fullness of the Godhead and were fashioned in the likeness of the divine. {AA 49.3}
2 – Notice here that Gods people are described as "fallen" and reason given for this fallen state is "iniquity – iniquity is sin and sin is breaking Gods law.
MAN AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
Two classes of humanity
Rev_22:11 He that is unrighteous, let him do unrighteousness still: and he that is filthy, let him be made filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him do righteousness still: and he that is holy, let him be made holy still.
Note: It is shown here that righteous living is not only possible, but required - for there are only two classes of people when Jesus returns – the righteous saved and the unrighteous lost. This emphatically supports the truth that although a mans works cannot save him – his works are judged and works found to be righteous are evidence of his regenerate heart, saved from the power of sin and his sinful nature, accomplished only by the grace and power of God. 1
1 - All who in that evil day would fearlessly serve God according to the dictates of conscience, will need courage, firmness, and a knowledge of God and His word; for those who are true to God will be persecuted, their motives will be impugned, their best efforts misinterpreted, and their names cast out as evil. Satan will work with all his deceptive power to influence the heart and becloud the understanding, to make evil appear good, and good evil. The stronger and purer the faith of God's people, and the firmer their determination to obey Him, the more fiercely will Satan strive to stir up against them the rage of those who, while claiming to be righteous, trample upon the law of God. It will require the firmest trust, the most heroic purpose, to hold fast the faith once delivered to the saints. {AA 431.1}
The man living by the Spirit of God is contrasted with the man living in his sinful nature
Pro_11:6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but deceivers shall be taken in lust.
Note: The righteousness here is not just mere works – the filthy rags of mankinds self-righteousness. Deliverence from the penalty of the law is what only Christ Jesus can accomplish by His blood. It is the righteousness of Christ joined with the believers faithful obedience to Gods law and will that saves repentant mankind from sin by the power of His Spirit 1 – regarding this, there is no law or condemnation - this is truely abiding in Christ. This righteousness is contrasted with deceitful men who are fallen from righteousness by lust; which is living not by direction of the Holy Spirit, but as they are moved by thier own lust from a sinful nature; thus breaking the law of God.
1 - The office of the Holy Spirit is distinctly specified in the words of Christ: "When He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." John 16:8. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts of sin. If the sinner responds to the quickening influence of the Spirit, he will be brought to repentance and aroused to the importance of obeying the divine requirements. {AA 52.2}
....Having brought conviction of sin, and presented before the mind the standard of righteousness, the Holy Spirit withdraws the affections from the things of this earth and fills the soul with a desire for holiness. "He will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13), the Saviour declared. If men are willing to be molded, there will be brought about a sanctification of the whole being. The Spirit will take the things of God and stamp them on the soul. By His power the way of life will be made so plain that none need err therein. {AA 52.5}
Mans righteousness by his own works can not save him
Tit_3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.
Note: Righteousness is a gift of God, through Jesus Christ His Son, as Jesus is the only provision offered by which mankind may make peace with God. As with the patriarch Abraham, God has provided the peace offering, approved by Himself for Himself, as a token and evidence of His mercy and love for sinners. The true Christian undergoing a true conversion experience will demonstrate the fruits of regeneration by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Man can be righteous
Pro_14:34 Righteousness lifts up a nation, but sin is a shame to any people.
Pro_15:9 The way of the wicked is hateful to Jehovah, but He loves him who pursues righteousness.
Pro_21:21 He who follows after righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor.
Hos_10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground. For it is time to seek Jehovah, until He comes and rains righteousness on you.
Zec_8:8 And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be My people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
Mat_5:6 Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness! For they shall be filled.
Act_10:35 but in every nation he who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him.
Rom_6:16 Do you not know that to whom you yield yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to him whom you obey; whether it is of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness.
Jas_3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
2Pe_2:5 And He did not spare the old world, but saved Noah the eighth one, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.
1Jn_2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who does righteousness has been born of Him.
1Jn_3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as that One is righteous.
Note: The volume of references to righteousness in Gods word is evidence that His word is inspired not by the pen of man, but by the Spirit of God, for man in his rebellion against God and His law can not lift himself to the high standard of righteousness as written in Gods word, and would never condemn himself with contemplating righteousness apart from God. Therefore, it is Godly wisdom that presents righteousness as the standard for the Christian and it is Gods provision by Jesus Christ that makes righteousness possible for mankind.
Those who deny righteousness deny Jesus Christ and His Spirit, for these are the sources of all true righteousness. Righteousness then, originating in God, reflects Gods character and is demonstrated by love, life, mercy, truth, passion and commitment to right-doing, respect for God and one another, obedience to Gods will and His law, peacefulness, witnessing to others, etc. God requires righteousnss from mankind – and because it is required by God, it is possible to obtain through the grace and righteousness of Jesus Christ and the power of the Spirit of God.
Mankind is called to righteousness
Rom_6:13 neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
1Jn_1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
Rom_6:18 Then being made free from sin, you became the slaves of righteousness.
Rom_6:19 I speak in the manner of men because of the weakness of your flesh; for as you have yielded your members as slaves to uncleanness, and to lawless act unto lawless act, even so now yield your members as slaves to righteousness unto holiness.
Mat_5:20 For I say to you that unless your righteousness shall exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
Eph_4:24 And you should put on the new man, who according to God was created in righteousness and true holiness.
Eph_6:14 Therefore stand, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness
Php_1:11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
1Ti_6:11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness.
Note: God is the creator of man in His own image, but because man has enslaved himself into sin by breaking Gods law, God had to purchased man from the penalty of the law by the sacrifice of His son, satifying the penalty of the law for us. So then, man is called by God out of the sin that created his bondage to death and through the workings of the plan of salvation, man is re-created in Gods image, which is holiness, righteousness, truth., etc. By this re-creation, man is to be prepared for reinstatement to his original home with God in heaven, thus restoring man to his original estate. Therefore, we are called to "put on the new man" and to be "instruments" and "slaves" to righteousness, which denies the sinful lifestyle and honors God by obedience to His word and law, through the power of His Spirit.
Righteousness learned by God through His word
2Ti_3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
Note: Gods word is inspired by Himself, thus its principles are as sure and true as Gods character. The inspired word of God is the righteous standard by which mankind is to be judged and is the instrument by which he learns righteousness; thus, man must aquaint himself with its promises, power and requirements to enter into life. God is the God of the living, and His instruction through His word is life-giving - therefore, rejection of His word and its instruction leads to death.
Righteousness obtained by faith
Gal_3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.
Gal_5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness out of faith.
Heb_11:7 By faith Noah, having been warned by God of things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Note: Faith is the vehicle by which we take hold of the promises of God. God promises to create a new heart in us as we seek Him. The new heart that we are given is claimed by faith and given by the power of the Holy Spirit, which without, we can not be changed. This new heart is the Spiritual nature that is given as a gift from God and is available to all that repent from sinful living with a sincere heart and by faith claim the Spirit of life from God. The truely repentant Christian will submit themselves daily to the regenerating power of the Spirit, bearing the fruit of good works that is evidence of thier change of heart in Chist Jesus.
Righteous living is by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit of God
Eph_5:9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
Note: The source of power to change mans sinful nature comes only from God through His Spirit. It is the Spirit that awakens the concience of man to discern spiritual principles and identify sin in all its forms. Obedience and submission to His Spirit brings forth the fruits of the Spirit of which righteousness is associated. Mankind can not be righteous without living under the guidance and influence of Gods Spirit. Those that deny the power of the Spirit deny Gods Ambassador of righteousness and regeneration, without whom none can see heaven.1
1 - Paul knew that his warfare against evil would not end so long as life should last. Ever he realized the need of putting a strict guard upon himself, that earthly desires might not overcome spiritual zeal. With all his power he continued to strive against natural inclinations. Ever he kept before him the ideal to be attained, and this ideal he strove to reach by willing obedience to the law of God. His words, his practices, his passions--all were brought under the control of the Spirit of God. {AA 314.3}
Man can lose righteousness by commiting sin
Eze_3:20 And when the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and when I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.
Eze_18:24 But when the righteous turns from his righteousness and does injustice, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked do, shall he live? All his righteousness that he has done shall not be remembered; in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them he shall die.
Eze_33:18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall even die by them.
2Pe_2:21 For it would have been better for them not to have fully known the way of righteousness, than fully knowing it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
Note: It is very clear that Christian believers who do not live in submission to the will, word and commandments of God, re-condemn themselves by sinful living. Therefore, a true believer must daily submit themselves to the will and word of God, including the decalogue, for it is from the penalty of the decalogue that we are saved by the grace of Jesus – how then can it ever be permissible to sin and claim salvation from that sin which you were saved from? True believers in Christ will pray for not only forgiveness of sin and salvation through faith in Christ, but for power to remove sin from thier lives at the roots.
Gods people will be righteous
1Jn_3:10 In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the Devil: everyone not practicing righteousness is not of God, also he who does not love his brother.
Rev_19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. For the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.
Pro_11:6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but deceivers shall be taken in lust.
Note: In the above verse the children of God are known by thier righteous works – not because they are saved by thier works but because righteousness or "right-doing" is the finger print and signature of the power of Gods Spirit in us.
Reward of the righteous
2Ti_4:8 Now there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that Day; and not to me only, but also to all those who love His appearing.
Note: The wonderful crown of righteousness can only be obtained by righteous living through the power of the Holy Spirit.
THE LAW OF GOD IS RIGHTEOUSNESS
The law of God is righteousness and following Gods law is righteousness
Psa_119:172 My tongue shall speak Your Word, for all Your Commandments are righteousness.
Deu_6:25 And if we are careful to do all this commandment before Jehovah our God, as He has commanded us, it shall be our righteousness.
The law of God is truth
Psa_119:142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your Law is the truth.
REPENTANCE AND CONVERSION
Repentance or turning away from sin is evidence of true conversion of the sinner to a Christian. Repentance is a pre-requisite for conversion.
Act_3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
If a person does not repent or turn away from thier sinful life and be converted they will not receive salvation or heaven.
Mat_18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
The law of God teaches us Gods ways, shows us the need for a Savior and when the sinner repents and accepts Jesus as his Savior – he becomes converted by the power of God
Psa_51:13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
1Ki_3:14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
Conversion takes faith
Luk_22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Conversion is necessary before the forgiveness of sins
Mar_4:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
GRACE AND THE LAW
Grace is not a license to sin, Grace is the power to live without sin
Rom_6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
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