LOVE TABERNACLE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL
BOOK: Who We Are In Christ
Chapter 4: The Righteous
4 The Righteous
4.1 Definitions
The American Heritage Dictionary defines righteous as "meeting the
standards of what is right and just; morally right; guiltless".
Beloved, we are now the righteous, the guiltless in the eyes of God,
Jesus having meet the standards of justice, bearing the penalty of our
sin for us. We who are cleansed by His blood are now the
righteousness of God, thru faith in Christ Jesus:
I John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.
II 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.
I Cor 1:30
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is
made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and
sanctification, and redemption:
I 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.
Another definition for righteous is that "we are in right standing with
God". This definition still reflects the fact of the standards of
moral justice for our sin having been met in the high court of heaven
by the blood of Jesus. It also reflects our relationship with our
heavenly Father has been restored, with no enmity between Him and
us. This righteous relationship allows intimate fellowship and
friendship with God.
II Cor 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Eph 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after
God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Eph 1:4
According as he hath chosen us in him before
the foundation of the world, that we should be holy
and without blame before him in love:
In a marriage relationship, a woman becomes part of a covenant which
entitles her to call on the man to meet her needs and desires.
This relationship, and the rights stemming from it, did not previously
exist between the two, though they were both alive. This is
symbolic of Jesus and the Church. Though we were alive in the
world, yet we were as dead to Christ in that we did not know Him in an
intimate way and had not covenant rights to call upon.
After the relationship is sealed, any transgression which occurs does
not break the relationship. That is, it does not make void the
marriage covenant. But the transgression does affect the
fellowship. When you have stumbled over into some sin, don't
remain there, being separated from the intimate fellowship of Christ,
but have confidence to enter in and ask for forgiveness. He is
gracious and just to forgive you, for He loves you.
Hebrews 10:19-23
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter
into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new
and living way, which he hath consecrated for us,
through the vail, that is to say, his flesh; And
having an high priest over the house of God; Let
us draw near with a true heart in full assurance
of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an
evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure
water. Let us hold fast the profession of our
faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that
promised;)
4.2 By Faith, Not Works
In the old testament, righteousness was dependent on the standards of
justice in the Mosaic covenant. That is, men were considered
righteous if they meet the requirements of the law. These were
based on works and could never make a man clean or justified of
themselves, but merely atoned or covered sin until the Redeemer came.1
New testament righteousness is based on faith in Christ Jesus, and not by works:
Romans 9:30-32
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles,
which followed not after righteousness, have
attained to righteousness, even the righteousness
which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after
the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the
law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they
sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works
of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Romans 10:6,9-10
But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh
on this wise... That if thou shalt confess with thy
mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine
heart that God hath raised him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth
unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession
is made unto salvation.
Even before the law and circumcision, righteousness was imputed2 to Abraham because of his faith3.
And truly, all those under the Mosaic covenant who attained unto life
in Christ Jesus, the judges and prophets being among them, did not by
the works alone, but by faith also in God and in what He had promised.
James 2:20-26
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith
without works is dead? Was not Abraham our
father justified by works, when he had offered
Isaac his son upon the altar?
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works,
and by works was faith made perfect?
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith,
Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto
him for righteousness: and he was called the
Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a
man is justified, and not by faith only.
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified
by works, when she had received the messengers,
and had sent them out another way? For as the
body without the spirit is dead, so faith without
works is dead also.
4.3 Unto Righteous Works
While we are righteous in this present age, thru faith and not of
works, yet we are called to do good works. Our works show not
only our faith, which must be active to be alive, but also shows the
world the love of God in us. Jesus commanded us to let our light
shine, that men might see our good works, and glorify our Father in
heaven. Thru these, men will see the love of God manifested in
us, and all men will know you are Jesus' disciples because of this
love.
Our works are called righteous because they come from the new standard, which is to apply mercy and justice thru love:
I John 3:7,10
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth
righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous...
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.
Matthew 12:7
But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy,
and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
Luke 6:35-36
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend,
hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great,
and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind
unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful,
as your Father also is merciful.
James 2:13
For he shall have judgment without mercy,
that hath shewed no mercy;
and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
Eph 2:8-10
For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
unto good works, which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them.
All things must be done thru faith in God. Anything not done in faith is sin:
Romans 14:23
And he that doubteth is damned... for whatsoever
is not of faith is sin.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him:
for he that cometh to God must believe that he
is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him.
I John 5:1
All unrighteousness is sin....
4.4 Praise God
I John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.
We are the righteous in our heavenly Father's eyes. He loves us
with an everlasting love. He will never leave us nor forsake
us. He has a yearning to bless us, to commune with us, to
fellowship with us.
He made Adam so as to have fellowship with him, so as to walk with him
in the cool of the evening. After Adam fell, God keep searching
for a man to walk with Him, to fellowship with Him. God searched
for seven generations, until He found a man, the 7th from Adam,
Enoch. And it is written "Enoch walked with God" for three
hundred years, "and he was not; for God took him"4.
God loves us just as much as He loved Enoch. God seeks to walk
with us every minute of the day. Let Him walk with you
today. He is coming back for you, to take you with Him, just like
Enoch, on that day when Jesus comes for His bride, because He loves you
with an everlasting love5. Praise God forevermore! Amen!
Footnotes:
1. see Hebrews 9-10
2. accounted to
3. Romans 4:9-13
4. Gen 5:21-24, Heb 11:5
5. 1 Thes 4:13-5:5, Rev 4:1, Rev 11:12