Righteousness

[k4c]

Righteousness is both a declarded standing with God and an outward act.

Listen closely to both sides of righteousness.

1 John 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

He who IS RIGHTEOUS will practice righteousness. No one is declared righteouse by any outward act done outside of belief in Jesus. But one who is righteous, through faith in Jesus, will practice righteousness.

Righteousness, as a declared standing with God, comes only through the blood of Christ but the definition of righteousness is defined by the Law, which not only points out our need for the Savior, but also, sets the standard that allows for the outward practice of righteousness.

If one practices the outward acts of righteousness without first receiving the declaration of righteousness those outward acts of RIGHTEOUSNESS are considered as filthy rags. I capitalized the word (righteousness) because God does call them righteous acts but it's a righteousness that is unacceptable to God not because they are not rigtheous acts, but rather, because of the standing the person has with God. Two men can be keeping the same Law yet, only one is accepted.

The declaration of righteousness, in other words, standing justified before God, comes only through God's grace through the shed blood of Christ. If it could come through the righteous acts we do then Christ died in vain.

Galatians 2:21 "I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.''

Now the problem...

When a person keeps the Law in such as way as to think it's a means to his justification, rather than, through a greatfull heart for being justified already, that person has fallen from grace.

Galatians 5:4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

One of the symptoms of this is an unloving, legalistic attitude to others around him.

Don't be DECEIVED...he who is born of God will love and practice righteousness through that love.

1 John 2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Let's sum it all up in this...

Romans 13:8-10 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery,'' "You shall not murder,'' "You shall not steal,'' "You shall not bear false witness,'' "You shall not covet,'' and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'' Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love (BY DEFAULT) is the fulfillment of the law.

 

[Adventtruth]

I agree that basically righteousness is a standing before God and an action.

In the ancient Hebrew court there was only the accuser and the person being accused and a judge (priest). He had to judge according to what the Law said (covenant) Either party could be found either guilty or innocent. The innocent party was declared righteous if found not guilty.

The Mosaic Law was always connected with the covenant as the ancient Hebrews understood all to well....the Torah was the covenant charter. Righteousness is always in connection with both parties (God who made the covenant and the community of Israel who agreed to keep it) keeping the terms of the covenant. So a person in the old covenant who kept the charter was considered righteous by God for keeping the covenant. God is always faithful to the covenant he makes with His people no matter what.


So when we read the Pauline Epistles we can see that Paul being a Hebrew understood that old model (law-court/covenant) and its always reflected in his writings. He re-defined everything he understood of the law-court/covenant metaphor as a pharisee after he had his encounter with Christ on Damascus Road....Thus in the New Covenant the same principals apply. Christ is seen as the accused and is declared not guilty and righteous By the judge, God. All who trust in His works are innocent and declared righteous By God...not because of works but because of faith. And all who abide by the terms of the new covenant are seen as righteous as well. So in Romans 3:21 we have...

"But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;"

This righteousness is understood as God keeping and being faithful to the covenant promise.

AT

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

There seems to be alot of followers of Paul in regards to justifying their belief in not being required to obey the supreme Law of the universe. But how many 'thus saith the Lord' or direct quotations from Christ are ever given. If Paul's teachings are not in line with what Christ taught, then either he is a false apostle or our understandings of his writings are wrong.

Don't forget, the covenant that is between us and Christ was sealed at His death and cannot be added to after that. Whatever Paul, or any of the other apostles taught, had to be in agreement to what Christ laid out in the contract, before His death. Pauls writings are not a codicil to the new covenant.

 

[k4c]

There seems to be alot of followers of Paul in regards to justifying their belief in not being required to obey the supreme Law of the universe. But how many 'thus saith the Lord' or direct quotations from Christ are ever given. If Paul's teachings are not in line with what Christ taught, then either he is a false apostle or our understandings of his writings are wrong.

Don't forget, the covenant that is between us and Christ was sealed at His death and cannot be added to after that. Whatever Paul, or any of the other apostles taught, had to be in agreement to what Christ laid out in the contract, before His death. Pauls writings are not a codicil to the new covenant.

Excellent point...

 

[Adventtruth]

There seems to be alot of followers of Paul in regards to justifying their belief in not being required to obey the supreme Law of the universe. But how many 'thus saith the Lord' or direct quotations from Christ are ever given. If Paul's teachings are not in line with what Christ taught, then either he is a false apostle or our understandings of his writings are wrong.

Don't forget, the covenant that is between us and Christ was sealed at His death and cannot be added to after that. Whatever Paul, or any of the other apostles taught, had to be in agreement to what Christ laid out in the contract, before His death. Pauls writings are not a codicil to the new covenant.

Give us some examples please.

AT