Awake To Righteousness, For We Through the Spirit Wait For The Hope Of Righteousness By faith. - Part 2560

"And [Abraham] believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness." (Genesis 15:6)

Jesus said, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." (Matthew 5:6) 

Jesus said, "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:20) 

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)

" ... for instruction in righteousness." (II Timothy 3:16) 

In the last blog, we learned about apostle Paul's heart desire for Israel -- that they might be saved. This was a critical question -- because even though the Israelites had a zeal for God, their zeal was not according to knowledge. As Paul writes, the Israelites are ignorant of God's righteousness, going about instead, to establish their own righteousness. 

"Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." (Romans 10:1-4)

Paul doesn't just say these things about Israel, but about himself also -- "circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, 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 ..." (Philippians 3:5-9)

What is righteousness?

Paul writes, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes." (Romans 10:5)

Paul further states to the saints in Galatia, "Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." (Galatians 3:20-22)

Note that this is the same message Paul preaches in the epistle to the Romans 10 and 11. 

Perhaps, it's important to note that within the scriptures, there are 291 references to righteousness. For example, when Zacharias (the father of John the baptizer) and full of the Holy Ghost prophesied, he said, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for He hath visited and redeemed His people and hath raised up an hour of salvation for us in the house of His servant David ... "that we .... might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life." (Luke 1:67-75) 

A second example is just before Jesus is crucified. Jesus says to His disciples,  "And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more." (John 16:8-10)

We also know from Acts 13 that the devil is referred to as the enemy of righteousness. "Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, and said, "O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season." And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand." (Acts 13:9-11)

When Paul reasoned righteousness, temperance and judgment with Felix, we know that Felix trembled. (Acts 24:25) We know from Peter that God is not a respecter of persons, and that every nation that works righteousness and fears Him shall be accepted with Him. (Acts 10:34-36)

"But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord." (I Corinthians 1:30-31)

We also learn that our salvation is not of works. "... 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;" (Titus 3:5)

So should we ask? Who is He who according to His own mercy and grace, chose to save us? Yes, that's right -- "and ye shall call His name JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21-23) 

"... 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." (I Peter 2:24) "But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled!" (I Peter 3:14)

Similarly, we know that there is fruit which comes forth from righteousness. "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." (James 3:18) And historic too - since Noah is cited as being a preacher to the world. (II Peter 2:5) 

We also come to the understanding that righteousness is pivotal (a criteria?) as we see in I John.

"If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that does righteousness is born of Him." (I John 2:29) "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous." (I John 3:7) "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother." (I John 3:10) 

The bride -- also known as the body of Christ church -- will be arrayed in clean, white fine linen, "for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." (Revelation 19:8) 

Further, those who believe in the Lord Jesus by faith, have their loins girded with truth, wearing the breastplate of righteousness. (Ephesians 6:14) But for those who do not, Jesus said, "For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him." (Matthew 21:32)

Getting back to Romans 11, Paul writes, "For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which does those things shall live by them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaks on this wise, Say not in thine heart, "Who shall ascend into heaven?" (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) or, "Who shall descend into the deep?" (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 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 believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 

For the scripture saith, "Whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things."

Therefore, as we begin to investigate righteousness, as it is applied in these last days, strive to preach the gospel of peace, and continue to bring glad tidings of good things. There's much more to come on this topic. But for now, stand in the offering plate.