Pursuing Righteousness

[Not me]

Oh the blessing of pursuing righteousness. I have often thought what was it that God wanted out of me. Righteousness is what He wants. Righteousness in all things. Righteousness is the bar that I’m to measure all things by. To pursue Righteousness in all I think, do, say, dream, hope, desire. Not to favor the poor man or the rich man, but just to pursue that which is right for no other reason but that it is right. This I have discovered pleases God. Righteousness for its own sake. Doing Righteousness for it’s own sake, not because it gets me what I want, but because it is right. But to forsake my own will, and not pursue what I want. But in any and all situations, to pursue what is right in that particular situation. Than as long as I pursued righteousness and trusted God for the out come. Oh the peace and joy that I found in that simple task of pursuing Righteousness for its own sake. Have come to discover that Righteousness is that thing alone that looks out after everyone’s rights. It always pursues peace, it always pursues love, it always pursues that which is truly good. But have learned that Righteousness is infinitely rigid. Will not bend, for it has all, when it has itself. Will only be satisfied with itself, for itself is alone that thing that is right. Oh the glory of pursuing Righteousness in all things. For by pursuing Righteousness in all things, we are pursuing Jesus in all things, for He is the King of Righteousness, and He waits to bless those willing to walk in Righteousness. Have heard it said, that God hides Himself, but that is only true to those that are not willing to walk in Righteousness. For those that are, God is right there, He is so close a blind man could see Him. The willingness to do Righteousness is that which brings Him so close. For it is Righteousness that He wants out of His children. Scripture says;

John 7:17 (NASB)
"If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or [whether] I speak from Myself.

Righteousness is His will. Willing to do Righteousness for it’s own sake at whatever the cost. Is what brings Heaven down to man and man up to Heaven. Blessed are all that discover the blessing of pursuing Righteousness in all things.

Much love in Christ, Not me

 

[Tolworth John]

And how does this work out in practice?

How has your life style changed?

 

[GodsGrace101]

What does it mean to be righteous?

 

[Not me]

And how does this work out in practice?

How has your life style changed?

Absolutely, my life has done a 180. First the Lord show me what it meant to be “dead in Christ and alive onto God” after that truth was learned by experience. He move on to show me what Righteousness was, with that “light” my life has been a victorious one. Not perfect, but walking in all the light that I see. Has put a joy in my heart and a smile on my face that trials and tribulations can’t even dent.

Much love in Christ, Not me

What does it mean to be righteous?

Righteousness means “that which is right. Doing what is right for it’s own sake.”
Or a deeper understanding would be “that which is free from all disorder”

Much love in Christ, Not me

 

[GodsGrace101]

Righteousness means “that which is right. Doing what is right for it’s own sake.”
Or a deeper understanding would be “that which is free from all disorder”

Much love in Christ, Not me

Being righteous means being right with God.
We do what is right for the glory we give to God.
Colossians 3:23
Bless you.

 

[brinny]

Oh the blessing of pursuing righteousness. I have often thought what was it that God wanted out of me. Righteousness is what He wants. Righteousness in all things. Righteousness is the bar that I’m to measure all things by. To pursue Righteousness in all I think, do, say, dream, hope, desire. Not to favor the poor man or the rich man, but just to pursue that which is right for no other reason but that it is right. This I have discovered pleases God. Righteousness for its own sake. Doing Righteousness for it’s own sake, not because it gets me what I want, but because it is right. But to forsake my own will, and not pursue what I want. But in any and all situations, to pursue what is right in that particular situation. Than as long as I pursued righteousness and trusted God for the out come. Oh the peace and joy that I found in that simple task of pursuing Righteousness for its own sake. Have come to discover that Righteousness is that thing alone that looks out after everyone’s rights. It always pursues peace, it always pursues love, it always pursues that which is truly good. But have learned that Righteousness is infinitely rigid. Will not bend, for it has all, when it has itself. Will only be satisfied with itself, for itself is alone that thing that is right. Oh the glory of pursuing Righteousness in all things. For by pursuing Righteousness in all things, we are pursuing Jesus in all things, for He is the King of Righteousness, and He waits to bless those willing to walk in Righteousness. Have heard it said, that God hides Himself, but that is only true to those that are not willing to walk in Righteousness. For those that are, God is right there, He is so close a blind man could see Him. The willingness to do Righteousness is that which brings Him so close. For it is Righteousness that He wants out of His children. Scripture says;

John 7:17 (NASB)
"If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or [whether] I speak from Myself.

Righteousness is His will. Willing to do Righteousness for it’s own sake at whatever the cost. Is what brings Heaven down to man and man up to Heaven. Blessed are all that discover the blessing of pursuing Righteousness in all things.

Much love in Christ, Not me

Righteousness is the bar that I’m to measure all things by.

It is Christ Himself Who is that "bar", is it not it? Christ is "righteousness" personified, is He not?

 

[brinny]

As it says in post #5, "righteousness" = being "right" with God.

How are we "right" with God?

 

[W2L]

As it says in post #5, "righteousness" = being "right" with God.

How are we "right" with God?

We are right with God because of the sacrifice that God made for us.

 

[brinny]

We are right with God because of the sacrifice that God made for us.

Amen!!!

 

[Not me]

Being righteous means being right with God.
We do what is right for the glory we give to God.
Colossians 3:23
Bless you.

Amen! Thank you for your blessing.

If I may be so bold. If you would allow me to give you a thought to take before God to see what He would say about it.

“right standing with God is the fruit of righteousness”

Righteousness is doing that which is right, and the fruit of that, is right standing with God.
(food for thought).

Much love in Christ, Not me

It is Christ Himself Who is that "bar", is it not it? Christ is "righteousness" personified, is He not?

Yes! Christ is righteousness personified. He always does that which is right. He is that bar that all things are judged against. Yep, yep, yep. Blessing to you.

Much love in Christ, Not me

 

[brinny]

Amen! Thank you for your blessing.

If I may be so bold. If you would allow me to give you a thought to take before God to see what He would say about it.

“right standing with God is the fruit of righteousness”

Righteousness is doing that which is right, and the fruit of that, is right standing with God.
(food for thought).

Much love in Christ, Not me



Yes! Christ is righteousness personified. He always does that which is right. He is that bar that all things are judged against. Yep, yep, yep. Blessing to you.

Much love in Christ, Not me

I was speaking about Christ. Not something "separate" from Christ, as if we "gain" it ourselves, and then carry it as if we have taken a "cloak" from Him called "righteousness", and have "earned" or now "carry" this thing called "righteousness".

HE "Himself" IS "Righteousness".

He doesn't "do" that which is "righteous". He IS righteousness. It is because of Christ that we are "right" with God.

That's what "righteous" means = "Right with God".

 

[Not me]

I was speaking about Christ. Not something "separate" from Christ, as if we "gain" it ourselves, and then carry it as if we have taken a "cloak" from Him called "righteousness", and have "earned" or now "carry" this thing called "righteousness".

HE "Himself" IS "Righteousness".

He doesn't "do" that which is "righteous". He IS righteousness. It is because of Christ that we are "right" with God.

That's what "righteous" means = "Right with God".

It is absolutely true Christ is righteousness. But Christ is a living being and righteousness is a “something”. Ask yourself would one and one still be two if God didn’t exist? The answer is yes. There would just be no manifestion of it. The same is true about righteousness. It itseslf would exist, it just never would be brought to manifestion. Again. Would truth exist, if God didn’t exist? Once again, the answer is yes, for the same reasons. Because God is a living being and truth is that which God has chosen to bring to manifestion. The same is true with righteousness. God has chosen to always manifest Himself in righteousness, always do good. This is why He is righteousness. For He has chosen to always manifest Himself in righteousness. This is His awesomeness. For He has chosen to always be good, true, holy, merciful, kind, loving, and all good things. But these are all His attributes. What He Himself “is”.....

As far as righteousness being right standing with God. I know that is what the standard Christian jargon is. But it’s not accurate. Right standing with God is the fruit of righteousness. Just like joy and peace are the fruit of righteousness also, but they are not righteousness itself, just the fruit of doing that which was right. Example; like when you do that which is right in any situation, you have peace with God. Peace with God is the fruit of doing that which is right. Doing that which is right is righteousness. Because of the righteousness of Christ we have peace with God. It is His righteousness manifest in us that is His life being manifested in us. This is our salvation brought and paid for by His sacrifice of Himself on the cross for us. This is why we needed saving, because we had lost our right standing with God, but why? Because unrighteousness had set in. Unrighteousness had taken the place of righteousness, thereby we lost are right standing with God.

But like with all things you hear, let the “peace of Christ” in your heart rule. So, if something I say upsets the “peace of Christ in your heart” ignore what I write . For the only thing that is of any value is an increase in Christ.

Much love in Christ, Not me

 

[GodsGrace101]

Amen! Thank you for your blessing.

If I may be so bold. If you would allow me to give you a thought to take before God to see what He would say about it.

“right standing with God is the fruit of righteousness”

Righteousness is doing that which is right, and the fruit of that, is right standing with God.
(food for thought).

Much love in Christ, Not me

I also read post no. 12

If you say that right standing with God is the fruit of righteousness, then what is the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant?

@brinny said that Jesus is not righteous, He IS righteousness.
This is like saying that God is not a loving God, He IS love.
1 John 4:8
IOW, you cannot separate God from righteousness, justice or love. He IS all those things. It's not that He chooses to be good, as you state, He can only be good, there is no other possibility - there is nothing ungood in Him.

But then you went on to say this and it's 100% right:

Because of the righteousness of Christ we have peace with God. It is His righteousness manifest in us that is His life being manifested in us. This is our salvation brought and paid for by His sacrifice of Himself on the cross for us. This is why we needed saving, because we had lost our right standing with God, but why? Because unrighteousness had set in. Unrighteousness had taken the place of righteousness, thereby we lost are right standing with God.

Let me say this and see if you agree:

In the Old Testament we had to earn our own righteousness.
We did this by having faith and by doing what is right.
As is said many times, Abraham had faith and it was counted to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:6
Isaiah 64:5 tells us that God is happy with those who do right.

In the O.C. we were to do the good works in order to gain salvation.

In the N.C. we first come to believe in Jesus who then gives us the help to do the good works. It's the opposite.
So in the N.C. Jesus becomes our righteousness --- it is credited to us if we have faith in Him.
1 Corinthians 1:30
Mathew 6:33 We seek HIS righteousness

IOW, it is now through Jesus that God sees us as being righteous, as long as we are followers of Jesus and obey His commands.

This is why Jesus said to rest in Him because HIS yoke is easy and His burden is light. Under the O.C. we had to work and depend on our own strength to be saved, in the N.C. we obey God and it's easier to do this because He sent the Holy Spirit.
The requirements are the same -- the method is different.

 

[brinny]

It is absolutely true Christ is righteousness. But Christ is a living being and righteousness is a “something”. Ask yourself would one and one still be two if God didn’t exist? The answer is yes. There would just be no manifestion of it. The same is true about righteousness. It itseslf would exist, it just never would be brought to manifestion. Again. Would truth exist, if God didn’t exist? Once again, the answer is yes, for the same reasons. Because God is a living being and truth is that which God has chosen to bring to manifestion. The same is true with righteousness. God has chosen to always manifest Himself in righteousness, always do good. This is why He is righteousness. For He has chosen to always manifest Himself in righteousness. This is His awesomeness. For He has chosen to always be good, true, holy, merciful, kind, loving, and all good things. But these are all His attributes. What He Himself “is”.....

As far as righteousness being right standing with God. I know that is what the standard Christian jargon is. But it’s not accurate. Right standing with God is the fruit of righteousness. Just like joy and peace are the fruit of righteousness also, but they are not righteousness itself, just the fruit of doing that which was right. Example; like when you do that which is right in any situation, you have peace with God. Peace with God is the fruit of doing that which is right. Doing that which is right is righteousness. Because of the righteousness of Christ we have peace with God. It is His righteousness manifest in us that is His life being manifested in us. This is our salvation brought and paid for by His sacrifice of Himself on the cross for us. This is why we needed saving, because we had lost our right standing with God, but why? Because unrighteousness had set in. Unrighteousness had taken the place of righteousness, thereby we lost are right standing with God.

But like with all things you hear, let the “peace of Christ” in your heart rule. So, if something I say upsets the “peace of Christ in your heart” ignore what I write . For the only thing that is of any value is an increase in Christ.

Much love in Christ, Not me

But Christ is a living being and righteousness is a “something”.

Jesus the Christ is GOD.

If righteousness is a "something", what do we need Jesus Christ for?

 

[brinny]

Pursuing Righteousness

Pursuing righteousness = pursuing Christ.

 

[Doug Melven]

Right doing is not righteousness.
But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
We do not seek to live right, we seek God's righteousness.
As @Notme said many times on this board, we die to self.
Do a search of his posts related to dying to self and you will get a really good picture of what that is.
We don't seek our own way, we seek Him and His Righteousness and He guides us in the way we should go.
Isaiah 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Acts 24:15
and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Acts 10:22
The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Luke 2:25
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Luke 1:6
Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Matthew 25:37
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Matthew 23:35
And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Matthew 13:49
This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

BibleGateway - : righteous

2 Samuel 22:21
“The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

2 Samuel 22:25
The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

1 Samuel 26:23
The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

1 Samuel 24:17
“You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

re pursue:

2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

2 Timothy 2:22
Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

1 Timothy 6:11
[ Final Charge to Timothy ] But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

 

[Not me]

I also read post no. 12

If you say that right standing with God is the fruit of righteousness, then what is the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant?

@brinny said that Jesus is not righteous, He IS righteousness.
This is like saying that God is not a loving God, He IS love.
1 John 4:8
IOW, you cannot separate God from righteousness, justice or love. He IS all those things. It's not that He chooses to be good, as you state, He can only be good, there is no other possibility - there is nothing ungood in Him.

But then you went on to say this and it's 100% right:

Because of the righteousness of Christ we have peace with God. It is His righteousness manifest in us that is His life being manifested in us. This is our salvation brought and paid for by His sacrifice of Himself on the cross for us. This is why we needed saving, because we had lost our right standing with God, but why? Because unrighteousness had set in. Unrighteousness had taken the place of righteousness, thereby we lost are right standing with God.

Let me say this and see if you agree:

In the Old Testament we had to earn our own righteousness.
We did this by having faith and by doing what is right.
As is said many times, Abraham had faith and it was counted to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:6
Isaiah 64:5 tells us that God is happy with those who do right.

In the O.C. we were to do the good works in order to gain salvation.

In the N.C. we first come to believe in Jesus who then gives us the help to do the good works. It's the opposite.
So in the N.C. Jesus becomes our righteousness --- it is credited to us if we have faith in Him.
1 Corinthians 1:30
Mathew 6:33 We seek HIS righteousness

IOW, it is now through Jesus that God sees us as being righteous, as long as we are followers of Jesus and obey His commands.

This is why Jesus said to rest in Him because HIS yoke is easy and His burden is light. Under the O.C. we had to work and depend on our own strength to be saved, in the N.C. we obey God and it's easier to do this because He sent the Holy Spirit.
The requirements are the same -- the method is different.

Jesus the Christ is GOD.

If righteousness is a "something", what do we need Jesus Christ for?

Pursuing Righteousness

Pursuing righteousness = pursuing Christ.

Right doing is not righteousness.
But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
We do not seek to live right, we seek God's righteousness.
As @Notme said many times on this board, we die to self.
Do a search of his posts related to dying to self and you will get a really good picture of what that is.
We don't seek our own way, we seek Him and His Righteousness and He guides us in the way we should go.
Isaiah 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Acts 24:15
and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Acts 10:22
The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Luke 2:25
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Luke 1:6
Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Matthew 25:37
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Matthew 23:35
And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Matthew 13:49
This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

BibleGateway - : righteous

2 Samuel 22:21
“The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

2 Samuel 22:25
The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

1 Samuel 26:23
The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

1 Samuel 24:17
“You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

re pursue:

2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

2 Timothy 2:22
Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

1 Timothy 6:11
[ Final Charge to Timothy ] But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Hi, thank you all for your comments and blessings. I will try to answer all your question in one post;

God is righteousness. This is a state of being, thereby producing the corresponding fruit. Just like unrighteousness is a state of being producing the corresponding fruit. We can’t separate the cause from the effect. One is the manifestation of the other. We sin because we have a nature that is unrighteous or incapable of doing righteousness. Our salvation in Christ consists of the life of Christ being formed in the believer. This life, which in scripture is called many things, new birth, new creation, not I but Christ, etc. All pointing to the same thing, the life of Christ really and truly bring manifested in the life of the believer. This is what is necessary for man’s behavior to be changed, so that by virtue of having received a new nature that He can thereby produce righteous deeds. For only the Divine Nature can “do right” in any and all situations. It was Adams “behavior” that was the fall, resulting in a fall into the life of this world, (which is why the life of this world must be given up, if one is to live a victorious Christian life, “death to self” ). This is what Christ came to undo, (the fall). He accomplishes this by giving us “Himself,” to become our lifes, or that “we might be made partakers of the Divine nature”. Just another why of saying “He gave us Himself as our righteousness”. This Divine nature is in a state of righteousness, thereby producing righteous behavior. So that by virtue of this Divine nature truly living and growing in us, we might walk in newness of life. Thereby producing righteousness or “that which was is right”. For right standing with God is the fruit of righteousness. Just like having “Peace with God” is the fruit of Christ’s redemptive work. Right behavior is righteousness, for scripture says “he that does righteousness is righteous” thereby making righteousness both an state and an action. Hope I have answered your concerns and questions, if not please let me know, and I will try again. Though this is my understanding, but I do see dimly, as in a mirror.

Much love in Christ, Not me

 

[brinny]

Hi, thank you all for your comments and blessings. I will try to answer all your question in one post;

God is righteousness. This is a state of being, thereby producing the corresponding fruit. Just like unrighteousness is a state of being producing the corresponding fruit. We can’t separate the cause from the effect. One is the manifestation of the other. We sin because we have a nature that is unrighteous or incapable of doing righteousness. Our salvation in Christ consists of the life of Christ being formed in the believer. This life, which in scripture is called many things, new birth, new creation, not I but Christ, etc. All pointing to the same thing, the life of Christ really and truly bring manifested in the life of the believer. This is what is necessary for man’s behavior to be changed, so that by virtue of having received a new nature that He can thereby produce righteous deeds. For only the Divine Nature can “do right” in any and all situations. It was Adams “behavior” that was the fall, resulting in a fall into the life of this world, (which is why the life of this world must be given up, if one is to live a victorious Christian life, “death to self” ). This is what Christ came to undo, (the fall). He accomplishes this by giving us “Himself,” to become our lifes, or that “we might be made partakers of the Divine nature”. Just another why of saying “He gave us Himself as our righteousness”. This Divine nature is in a state of righteousness, thereby producing righteous behavior. So that by virtue of this Divine nature truly living and growing in us, we might walk in newness of life. Thereby producing righteousness or “that which was is right”. For right standing with God is the fruit of righteousness. Just like having “Peace with God” is the fruit of Christ’s redemptive work. Right behavior is righteousness, for scripture says “he that does righteousness is righteous” thereby making righteousness both an state and an action. Hope I have answered your concerns and questions, if not please let me know, and I will try again. Though this is my understanding, but I do see dimly, as in a mirror.

Much love in Christ, Not me

Why did God deem Abraham "righteous"? And why did God call Abraham His "friend"?

 

[brinny]