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Righteousness
By Suzanne Leitz |
Brief synopsis of man’s
condition: In the beginning was
God, who created man and fellowshipped with him. Man disobeyed God, bringing
sin and condemnation into the human race.
God, loving man and desiring restored fellowship with him (but being
unable to fellowship with man in his sinful state), sent His only son, Jesus,
the perfect sacrifice, to rightfully pay for man’s sin.
Rom.
3:10
“As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even
one…’”
The law of Moses was given to
God’s people to make them aware of right and wrong.
But no one could keep it perfectly.
Rom.
3:19-28; 4:3, 9-13, 22-25
The
word “justification” in Rom. 4:25
is the Greek word dikaiosis,
meaning “the act of God declaring men free from guilt and
acceptable to him; abjuring to be righteous, justification.”
In Rom. 5:1, this word for justification comes from the same root word
as above, meaning “to be declared righteous.”
“It
is important to note that the word ‘justified’ is a word with legal
overtones. In other words, it describes a person who has been brought before a
judge, has faced a trial, and has been legally acquitted. In God’s books we
have been legally acquitted! We have been justified by Him!” (p. 31)*
Romans
5:6-11, 17-21
2
Cor. 5:21 For
he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness
of God in him.
It
was a good trade for us. Jesus
knew no sin, but He was made to BE sin, so that we, who knew no righteousness,
might be made righteous. But it
is IN HIM that we are righteous.
Philippians
3:9
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the
law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness
which is of God by faith:
1
Corinthians 1:30
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom,
and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
Romans 10:3-10
Titus
3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his
mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy
Ghost;
Bottom
line: We are made righteous—in
right standing with God—only through our faith in Christ. IN HIM, we are righteous, and nothing we do can make us any
MORE righteous than He makes us through that faith in him. There aren’t degrees of righteousness – a “little”
righteous or a “lot” righteous. Either
you are or you’re not. And if
you are, it’s because you have believed on God’s son, Jesus Christ. It’s not because you have done enough good deeds to become
righteous. If this were possible,
then God would not have needed to send the PERFECT sacrifice, Jesus, to die
for our sin.
Now.
Once having been made the righteousness of God in Christ, we are to
live in such a way as befits that righteousness.
Philippians 1:9-11 says,
9And
this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and
depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best
and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11filled
with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory
and praise of God.
Ephesians
4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness
and true holiness.
Ephesians
5:9
(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and
truth;)
Romans
6:13
Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto
sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and
your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
1
Timothy 6:11
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
2
Timothy 2:22
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity,
peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
“Imputed righteousness is
received as a gift. Imparted
righteousness is a whole new way of life that needs to be lived.” (p. 22)*
2
Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
1
Corinthians 15:34
Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of
God: I speak this to your shame.
2
Corinthians 9:10
Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food,
and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
Titus
2:12
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
James
3:18
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make
peace.
1
Peter 2:24
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being
dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were
healed.
1
John 2:29
If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness
is born of him.
1 John 3:7
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is
righteous, even as he is righteous.
1 John 3:10
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil:
whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth
not his brother.
*Roebert,
Ed. Righteousness. Sovereign World Publications: England.
© 2003 by Suzanne Leitz |
Power Tools:
Romans 3
Romans 4:25
Romans 5:6-11, 17-21
2 Corinthians 5:21
Philippians 3:9
1 Corinthians 1:30
Romans 10:3-10
Titus 3:5
Philippians 1:9-11
Ephesians 4:24
Ephesians 5:9
Romans 6:13
1 Timothy 6:11
2 Timothy 2:22
2 Timothy 3:16
1 Corinthians 15:34
2 Corinthians 9:10
Titus 2:12
James 3:18
1 Peter 2:24
1 John 2:29
1 John 3:7, 10
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