RIGHTEOUSNESS (Part 2)
Did you know that righteousness is important to Yehovah (Jehovah or God)? Last month the article outlined the definition of unrighteousness. It noted several texts on righteousness and how God wants His people to respond to His commandments, judgements and statutes. By the end one will understand why it is important for all who believe. Let us explore more about righteousness in the Scriptures.
In Psalms chapter 119 and verses 125 to 130 and142 it states clearly “I am thy servant, give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies. It is time for thee, LORD, to work for they have made void your law. Therefore, I love thy commandments above gold, yea, above fine gold. Therefore, I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way. Thy testimonies are wonderful, therefore doth my soul keep them. The entrance of thy words giveth light, it giveth understanding unto the simple. Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness and thy law is truth”.
In the same chapter and verse 144 and 172 it adds “The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting, give me understanding and I shall live. My tongue shall speak of thy words, for all thy commandments are righteousness”. From these verses it can be seen that the testimonies and the commandments of God are everlasting and are truth.
View these other texts for consistency. Isaiah chapter 32 and verse 17 “And the work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever”. Note what is written in Isaiah chapter 42 and verses 17 to 21 “They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molton images, ye are our gods. Hear, ye deaf, and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who is blind, but my servant, or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? Who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD’S servant? Seeing many things, but thou observest not, opening the ears, but he heareth not. The LORD is well pleased for HIS righteousness’ sake, he will magnify the law, and make it honourable”.
The following quote is taken from Luke chapter 16 and verses 15 to 17. “And he said to them, ye are they which justify yourselves before men, but God knoweth your hearts, for which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. The law and the prophets were until John (John the Baptist), since that time the kingdom of God is preached and every man presseth into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one title of the law to fail”.
Notice this statement taken from Isaiah chapter 51 and verse 7 “Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law, fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their reviling”. In contrast, Proverbs chapter 12 and verses 17, 19 and 20 states “He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness, but a false witness deceit. The lip of truth shall be established forchever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil, but to the counsellors of peace is joy”.
Did you know that the world will be judged in righteousness? In Psalms chapter 9 and verses 8 and 9 it clearly explains “And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgement to the people in uprightness. The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble”.
In Romans chapter 3 and verses 10 to 12 and 14 it declares “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable, there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”.
It can be seen that righteousness is important. But how can righteousness be obtained? In Romans chapter 5 and verses 1, 5, 6, 8 to 10 and 21 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. And hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord”.
Yeshua (Jesus) is our righteousness. Only through a diligent search of the Scriptures and with a humble heart can one receive the spirit of righteousness, (holy ghost or spirit of holiness) which is implanted or imputed in the heart by Yeshua our righteousness. When one desires truth and sorrows for the unrighteousness committed against God, then the holy spirit will dwell in the heart to guide and lead people into all righteousness (to do what is right according to the commandments of God and not the commandments of men). When this happens the heart will soften and go through a process of change. Only through an inward change of heart, can the outward life be corrected.
We must first acknowledge our unrighteousness (sins), and then look to Yeshua (Jesus) who died to set us free from unrighteousness. He paid the ultimate price by dying on the cross for every individual. The holy spirit will always lead to obedience of God’s commandments (includes judgements and statutes). The words in Scripture are truth. This is verified in John chapter 17 and verse 17 “Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth”.
All believers can obtain righteousness only through the inputed righteousness of Yeshua. Romans chapter 1 and verse 17 says “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, the just shall live by faith”. Also in the same book of Romans chapter 3 and verse 22 “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe…”.
In John chapter 3 and verse 16 and 17 it explains “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved”.
I hope you have learned more about the Scriptures. Next month I will continue with Part 3.
If you would like to know more, contact me (Sandra) nr: 643 387 231
