Can you explain righteousness?
Introduction. The Lord loves righteousness (Ps. 11: 7). God himself is righteous and His people are to hunger and thirst after righteousness (Jere. 12: 1, Matt. 5: 6). In fact, we are to put righteousness first in our lives (Matt. 6: 33). Moreover, righteousness provides the environment for grace (Rom. 5: 21). Righteousness (dikaiosune) "is the character or quality of being right or just...whatever has been appointed by God to be...obeyed by man...the sum total of the requirements of God..." (W.E. Vine).
How can man be righteous? Beloved, a succinct answer is by obediently accepting the provisions and terms of righteousness which have been made possible through Jesus Christ (Luke 1: 6, Ps. 119: 172, Gal. 2: 21). Without God (grace) and man (obedient faith), true righteousness would not be attainable (Eph. 2: 8-10). God has done his part - man must do his. Grace teaches us to live righteously (Tit. 2: 11, 12). Hence, we read of "word of righteousness" and "word of his grace" (Heb. 5: 13, Acts 14: 3). It is by faith that man accesses God's grace (Rom 5: 2). Such faith is always presented as active and obedient (Jas. 2: 19-26, Heb. 11).
There is a self-declared righteousness. Man becomes self-righteous when he pronounces himself righteous (Matt. 5: 20, see context), believes he has earned righteousness (Luke 18: 9), or invents his own system of righteousness, false doctrine (Rom. 10: 1-3).
There are many advantages of righteousness (being right). The righteous enjoy sound wisdom (Prov. 2: 7), favor (14: 9), and the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous (Ps. 34: 15, 1 Pet. 3: 12). The desire of the righteous is granted and they enjoy deliverance (Prov. 10: 24, 11: 8). God's secret (salvation), moreover, is with the righteous (Prov. 3: 32).
How can man be righteous? Beloved, a succinct answer is by obediently accepting the provisions and terms of righteousness which have been made possible through Jesus Christ (Luke 1: 6, Ps. 119: 172, Gal. 2: 21). Without God (grace) and man (obedient faith), true righteousness would not be attainable (Eph. 2: 8-10). God has done his part - man must do his. Grace teaches us to live righteously (Tit. 2: 11, 12). Hence, we read of "word of righteousness" and "word of his grace" (Heb. 5: 13, Acts 14: 3). It is by faith that man accesses God's grace (Rom 5: 2). Such faith is always presented as active and obedient (Jas. 2: 19-26, Heb. 11).
There is a self-declared righteousness. Man becomes self-righteous when he pronounces himself righteous (Matt. 5: 20, see context), believes he has earned righteousness (Luke 18: 9), or invents his own system of righteousness, false doctrine (Rom. 10: 1-3).
There are many advantages of righteousness (being right). The righteous enjoy sound wisdom (Prov. 2: 7), favor (14: 9), and the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous (Ps. 34: 15, 1 Pet. 3: 12). The desire of the righteous is granted and they enjoy deliverance (Prov. 10: 24, 11: 8). God's secret (salvation), moreover, is with the righteous (Prov. 3: 32).