The Incredible Nature of Being Righteous
The nature and depth of righteousness is pre-determined by God’s standard set for us according to His righteousness. If God’s righteousness is imputed or given to a man who receives it by faith, then that man is made righteous even though he is a sinner. This happens as a result of Jesus dying for us whilst we are yet sinners. The condition to this salvation and righteousness is to believe.
Rom 10:9 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. Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Act 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Gal 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
No one is righteous of their self, not even angels. This poses a problem for all creation because without imputed righteousness all existence is meaningless even though creation has been given a place by God.
Stones on earth are given a place by God but have no life of significance. Rather, they perform an inanimate function. Can stones praise God or be made children of God? The truth is they cannot of themselves but when given the ability they can. This knowledge prompted John the Baptist to admonish the people to say,
Mat 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Luk 19:40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
Therefore, we conclude that anything created can be made righteous irrespective of the nature of its existence or sin. This is a wonderful truth that breathes hope into all creation. Creation itself awaits redemption because it was made alive by God but subject to vanity.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
The distinction between different creatures (angels, man and others) and immaterial things in creation matter to God in their value and righteousness. It would appear that mankind in all of God’s creation is of more value to Him than other things on earth that He came personally to die for its redemption. He did not do this for the sake of the earth and the seen creation that we call the known world. Without man’s salvation there was not going to be redemption for the rest of the seen creation on earth and Universe. The salvation for man preceded the salvation of another kind of creation in this world. So, in God’s eyes, mankind was to be made righteous before Him by His own act of salvation and then man was expected to walk in God’s righteousness by choice.
Therefore, being saved does not mean a person remans in his constant state of imputed righteousness automatically. Subsequent to salvation righteousness is a pre-meditated act that is based on the knowledge of God’s righteousness yet subject to God’s approval for completeness. That is to say, one may be righteous but not completely till God says so.
Mat 5:20 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.
The nature of righteousness it seems varies on God’s determination of what that standard will be. For example, though I was a born again Christian and loved the Lord immensely, there came a time when God expected me to give up my dogs as pets and no longer have dogs as pets. My understanding for this expectation of God was, I had a love for my dogs that was competing with my love for God and I was in danger of usurping the throne of God in my life. This now became a decision for me to make because of righteousness. Needless to say, I killed the love I had for my dogs immediately and have been without dogs ever since in my life. That is over 27 years of my life.
Jesus said, He never did anything on His own but did what He saw the Father do and only spoke what the Father told Him to speak. This is righteousness at the highest level. When someone is given a mantle, calling or destiny, righteousness comes into play big time. John the Baptist was given a commission that was incredibly righteous in nature. The manner in which he fulfilled his calling, mantle and destiny was incredible to say the least. Yet, he was not considered the greatest. Therefore, righteousness does not make us great but aligns ourselves to God’s will.
Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
In the case of righteousness with Jesus, we see that the sceptre of righteousness was pre-eminent in Christ Jesus.
Heb 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. (Sceptre meaning absolute authority)
Therefore, He received an anointing above His creation. All this has to do with God’s standards of righteousness. Let us not forget what God is saying in His word to us. It is easier to do that than to go about trying to establish one’s own righteousness.
Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. Rom 10:3 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. Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.
In these passages we have a serious matter being explained to us. The Pharisees & the Jews were attempting to establish their own righteousness and present that to God. They did not realise that God had His own standards for righteousness. I believe that this is the pressing problem for Christians today. What seems to be from God can be made into an idol like the Jews did with the Law. Secondly, they flaunted the Law and did what they liked but used the Law to try and manipulate God. Very few of them understood faith and God’s righteousness by faith.
Likewise, many people are walking in what they call the anointing thinking that it is upon them because they get results. Others are doing good works and yet others are operating based on knowledge, gifts and making it their righteousness. Yet, God speaks on this wise, “not by might or by strength but by my Spirit”. So, righteousness is based on God’s Spirit being in a person leading them into righteousness based on His sovereignty.
When Apostle Peter was asked to go and preach to the Gentiles, he baulked at the idea because he was still living under a regime of false thinking that God was exclusive to the Jews. When God showed him that he was in error about righteousness being extended to all who would believe, he woke up and got a new revelation that liberated him.
Act 10:15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. Act 11:17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
The days are upon us like never before when the standards for righteousness are going to be challenged on the one hand and misunderstood on another. Many are saying there is no need for repentance because we are made righteous.
We who have had our eyes opened must submit to God and trust Him to show us the standards of righteousness He is expecting from us. Mind you, righteousness has not changed in God’s mind, but it has to be revealed to us so that we do not call evil good and good evil.
Many in the church are sinning openly today and calling it good. There are many in Christianity who would not judge them. Yet, God has called us to judge the Church
1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 1Co 6:4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 1Co 6:5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
As a result of weakness and false belief systems within the church, many are unwilling to judge the actions of another. The Bible teaches us to judge not judge to condemn. Biblical judging by Christians means coming to a conclusion on a matter that has been discerned as to whether it is good or evil. This kind of judging is not condemning because we are not in a position to condemn. A person is condemned of themselves not of another. God is the Judge who can condemn if He wants to. We are called to judge what is right or wrong and good or evil. How else are we to form our beliefs in this word and build associations with people based on the Bible by the word of God which determines our righteousness? If we do not judge, we become partakers of that evil by our silence and allowance of it.
Furthermore, we have many who are willing to attribute righteousness to what is openly a sin and false both in word and deed. They are also too quick to forgive another without repentance on the evil doer’s part. If God demands repentance for forgiveness, who are we that we can forgive without repentance. We are not God and so we must forgive. Forgiving another without repentance or with repentance is not to justify another’s sin. It is to release us from offense and bitterness so that we may not be hurt or judge another and condemn them. The Lord will judge them in due time according to their walk with Him.
The demand in the last days is for righteousness and holiness unto the Lord in each man’s heart. Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Do not leave earth without Jesus.
Blessings &Love
Pst Noble
21/02/2021