How do we increase in righteousness?

[Hillsage]

You both see TRUTH but you both need to see more.

First salvation; Justification is salvation for your spirit by the imputed/declared righteousness which was attained by the righteous works of Christ BY his faith and not your faith.

Second salvation; Sanctification is salvation of your soul by the 'imparted/fulfilled/being/worketh righteousness' which comes from us walking out His righteousness with OUR faith and not His.

His imputed '100% righteousness' has forever taken care of our sins consequences.
Our imparting of His righteousness into our walks, takes care of our sins consequences here and now.

Justification, or the salvation of your spirit is given to you by the 'imputed/declared righteousness of Christ BY his faith not your faith. This is what scripture says, but this point is only found in a few translations because theologians, when translating texts are often indoctrinated to maintain carnal minded understandings of orthodoxy. Therefore a study of any Greek Interlinear reveals they have exchanged the literal definition the Greek from "faith OF Jesus" to "faith IN Jesus". Can we not see that this is a huge misleading for those of you who are seeking the truth.

YLT Romans 3:20 wherefore by works of law shall no flesh be declared righteous before Him, for through law is a knowledge of sin.
(NIV also says "declared righteous") (KJV, RSV, NAS all say "justified")

3:22 and the righteousness of God {is} through the faith of Jesus Christ to all, and upon all those believing, - for there is no difference,

YLT GAL 2:16 having known also that a man is not declared righteous by works of law, if not through the faith OF Jesus Christ, also we in Christ Jesus did believe, that we might be declared righteous by the faith OF Christ, and not by works of law, wherefore declared righteous by works of law shall be no flesh.'

PHI 3:9 not having my righteousness, which {is} of law, but that which {is} through faith of Christ - the righteousness that is of God by the faith,

MY RIGHTEOUSNESS is that which I DO in fulfillment of God's law, and it's also that which the OT people did. But no one was ever capable of "fulfilling/working/walking in the righteousness of God" which didn't allow for ONE SIN. And it's that righteousness we only have given to us meritoriously by the PERFECT WORK/FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST which gets us into heaven in the hereafter.

 

[Jeff4607]

There is a way to increase ones righteousness. Have Faith, believe in or "draw nearer to God".

Romans 4:3
What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Romans 4:4
Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Romans 4:5
However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.
Romans 4:6
David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
Romans 4:11
And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Romans 4:22
This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Romans 4:23
The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone,
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Romans 4:24
but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

 

[Hillsage]

There is a way to increase ones righteousness. Have Faith, believe in or "draw nearer to God".

Romans 4:3
What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

And this proves Abraham's righteousness was increased from 'what' to 'what'? He went from 'none' based upon faith, to all the righteousness, that is based upon 'faith'. And that is a reckoned, declared imputed credited righteousness which is not based upon works. That's what the whole chapter is talking about, you just have to rightly divide knowing the difference between the two types of righteousness.

Romans 4:4
Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation.

This is comparing the one who "works" for a righteousness, but he is not getting a 'credited/imputed righteousness. Instead, he's worked for an "obligation" righteousness, or an imparted righteousness. IOW Paul is merely pointing out what I said about the difference between imputed and imparted righteousness. With Imputed/credited you do no work. You only believe Jesus did the work with His faith for 'that' righteousness. But when it comes to an Imparted/fulfilled/worketh/being righteous, you do have to work for it. You do so to receive an obligation from God for 'work' done.

Romans 4:5
However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.
Romans 4:6
David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

Again, talking about the 'imputed/declared/CREDITED righteousness' which you did nothing but have faith for, just as I said. And is it for a salvation based upon SANCTIFYING work we do, or is it for 'JUSTIFICATION' as I bolded in your verse 5 quote above? Again, lines up with what I said.

Romans 4:22

This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Romans 4:23
The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone,
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Romans 4:24
but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

Again I say, is this the imputed righteousness for Justification we received by faith? Or the imparted righteousness of sanctification based upon our works?

Romans 4:25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

So how much "righteousness OF God" do you have to have, to be declared/credited/reckoned as having, in order to be judged "NOT GUILTY" at the Great White Throne judgement? Is it 30/60/90 fold? Or does it require 100% of the righteousness that you could have never worked hard enough to obtain? You can never receive less than 100% of Christ's imputed/declared/reckoned/credited righteousness, and you'll never receive 1% more of it either. Once you're spirit born again, it's a done deal for credited righteousness. and the salvation based upon justification.

You never addressed my comment concerning the righteousness that comes from the 'faith OF Jesus" as opposed to 'your faith'. Please do so before addressing anything else please. And remember, your NAS isn't going to help here. But do use your BIBLE GATEWAY 'Other Translations' option. That would make it easy.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Do good in response to evil and your righteousness will increase... Anyone can do good for selfish reasons, but doing good in response to evil makes you a child of God.

Matthew 5:44: Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Here is a question. If we were given the righteousness of Christ when we got converted, and that righteousness was complete and perfect, how come it needs to increase? Is there some other righteousness that we are supposed to have that make us any more acceptable to God than the totally perfect and complete righteousness of Christ that was given to us as a free gift along with our salvation?

 

[Hillsage]

Here is a question. If we were given the righteousness of Christ when we got converted, and that righteousness was complete and perfect, how come it needs to increase? Is there some other righteousness that we are supposed to have that make us any more acceptable to God than the totally perfect and complete righteousness of Christ that was given to us as a free gift along with our salvation?

I agree there is none that we need to be "acceptable" to God. But there is a righteousness that we need to grow in "stature and favor" with God, and that is the righteousness that even Jesus grew in by obedience.

LUK 2:51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.

That is because even Jesus had to walk in imparted/fulfilled righteousness to become perfect.

MAT 3:15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness."

 

[2 know him]

Here is a question. If we were given the righteousness of Christ when we got converted, and that righteousness was complete and perfect, how come it needs to increase? Is there some other righteousness that we are supposed to have that make us any more acceptable to God than the totally perfect and complete righteousness of Christ that was given to us as a free gift along with our salvation?

You are mistaken in what you believe... You believe conversion to be a point of acceptance instead of a desission of surrendering your will to take hold of Christ by embracing his teachings... If you don't abide in the doctrines of Christ you don't have or embrace him. Walking in forgiveness, one of Christ's teachings is how you embrace Christ, are converted and are made righteous; let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness the same is righteous and whoever sins is of the devil.

You must walk in the teachings of Christ to embrace him... Love your enemies, lay your treasures up in heaven, have and maintain good emotions towards all men: as your emotions define you as good or bad. Bad emotions cause you to will and do bad towards others, good emotions prevent you from wanting to harm others and only cause you to desire good towards others... Bad emotions cause your body to become under attack from sickness and disease while good emotions protect you from them. Your emotions define the state of your heart and unless you walk in love, which is an emotion and the opposite of hate, then you are filled with Satan and under his control. If your emotions are bad towards someone then you are wrong and need to get on your knees and ask God for forgiveness to change your heart.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

You are mistaken in what you believe... You believe conversion to be a point of acceptance instead of a desission of surrendering your will to take hold of Christ by embracing his teachings... If you don't abide in the doctrines of Christ you don't have or embrace him. Walking in forgiveness, one of Christ's teachings is how you embrace Christ, are converted and are made righteous; let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness the same is righteous and whoever sins is of the devil.

You must walk in the teachings of Christ to embrace him... Love your enemies, lay your treasures up in heaven, have and maintain good emotions towards all men: as your emotions define you as good or bad. Bad emotions cause you to will and do bad towards others, good emotions prevent you from wanting to harm others and only cause you to desire good towards others... Bad emotions cause your body to become under attack from sickness and disease while good emotions protect you from them. Your emotions define the state of your heart and unless you walk in love, which is an emotion and the opposite of hate, then you are filled with Satan and under his control. If your emotions are bad towards someone then you are wrong and need to get on your knees and ask God for forgiveness to change your heart.

So you don't believe in the righteousness of Christ then? So you think that the scripture which says that we are the righteousness of God in Christ is untrue?

 

[2 know him]

So you don't believe in the righteousness of Christ then? So you think that the scripture which says that we are the righteousness of God in Christ is untrue?

I believe we are made the righteousness of Christ by walking in the teachings of Christ.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

I believe we are made the righteousness of Christ by walking in the teachings of Christ.

So you believe that we have to earn the righteousness of Christ? It is not a free gift? So you are saying that is not by grace we are saved and that it is of ourselves (by following the teachings of Christ) and that it is not a gift of God?

 

[2 know him]

So you believe that we have to earn the righteousness of Christ? It is not a free gift? So you are saying that is not by grace we are saved and that it is of ourselves (by following the teachings of Christ) and that it is not a gift of God?

Yes, it is earned by counting the cost and willfully surrendering ones will and life to follow Christ. It is by the grace of God that we came to know Christ and an obligation of contract/covenant that we receive all the promises that are offered by Christ: from the Father.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Yes, it is earned by counting the cost and willfully surrendering ones will and life to follow Christ. It is by the grace of God that we came to know Christ and an obligation of contract/covenant that we receive all the promises that are offered by Christ: from the Father.

If you think you have to earn it, it is no longer Christ's righteousness. It becomes your own efforts to achieve righteousness, and this is unacceptable to God. It is a denial of the finished work of Christ on the cross and of His resurrection. If you could earn righteousness on your own, then the death and resurrection of Jesus is irrelevant to you. If you read your Bible correctly, you will see that that righteousness of Christ is conferred on believers as a free, unearned gift as part of being born again. If you don't have the righteousness of Christ as a free gift, then you may not be born again, but are trying to establish your own righteousness by keeping a set of moral rules or principles. The righteousness of Christ establishes your position before God. It has nothing to do with living a holy life in order to please and glorify God. I think that you are confusing it with living a Christ-like life, which is the strongest evidence of being born again. It is a developmental process which we call sanctification, where we are transformed day by day by the renewing of our mind so that we develop the mind of Christ.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

How does our righteous increase?

By doing what is right , in faith, trusting YHWH the CREATOR, humbly , without thought of self , "dead to the world", meeting other people's needs who are most in need, and others, without being a respecter of persons (no thought of prestige, or advantage, or any such thing) ...
Shalom Jeff!