2 Tim 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness:” KJV
We are continuing our study of righteousness, and are using the scriptures for that instruction. Last week we went over how we receive righteousness at the new birth. This week we will continue in that and show how we deal with sin after the new birth.
Righteousness is a gift from God, a gift that we receive when we become born again, those that
have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior. Even though we stumble and miss the mark we can be
assured that because of the blood of Jesus, we have received righteousness.
1 John 1:7-9 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to *cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” KJV
The church sometimes tries to put rules and regulations or laws on the new converts. Paul and James, along with the council of Jerusalem, dealt with this in Acts; they decided that they would not put this teaching, these laws on the new converts.
Sometimes we miss the mark, even though our heart can be right, because of a lack of knowledge, if we may miss the mark unknowingly, the blood will take care of everything. When knowledge comes and we miss the mark knowing better, it becomes a different matter. After we have missed the mark, have repented and ask for forgiveness, then we cannot continue to walk with guilt in our lives. God has forgiven and we must continue to walk in Gods righteousness. We cannot allow our minds to tell us that we are second rate, seeing ourselves as failures for the remainder of our lives. But we are the righteousness of God; it is His plan for our lives.
Based on what 1 John 1:9 tells us, Jesus has expunged our lives, we have received a pardon, have been washed with the blood of Jesus, there is no longer a record of our sin, it is totally forgiven and forgotten. It is not kept on file to take out and look at, but has been blotted out with no remembrance of us ever having done it. This is how God wants us to see the blood, how the blood of Jesus is so much more superior to the blood of bulls and goats, His blood wiped out our sin, but the blood of bulls and goats only covered the sin of the people.
*Cleanse means to purify from the pollution of sin and guilt. Guilt will cause us to live a low level of Christianity even though we are forgiven, but the process is not complete from Gods view until guilt is blotted out, with no remembrance of it.
We find in the following scriptures that there are different kinds of sin. But we have been declared righteous, set free from sin and guilt, have been washed, sanctified and justified by the name of Jesus.
1 Cor 6:9-11 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” KJV
1 Cor 6:9-11 “Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality, 10 Nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God. 11 And such some of you were [once]. But you were washed clean (purified by a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin), and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified [pronounced righteous, by trusting] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God.” AMP
How do we define righteousness? In Romans 9 and 10 we read that the people tried to establish their own righteousness because of being ignorant of Gods righteousness. Many people today try to define righteousness as having to do everything right, trying to do it on their own and failing to accept what God has already done for them, totally separate from them deserving it or earning it. Trying to establish righteousness on their own will last for maybe a day or two and then when they stumble, guilt and remorse come into their lives. This is not Gods plan on righteousness.
Rom:9:30-33: What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.31: But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.32: Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
33: As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Ro:10:3-10: 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.4: For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.5: For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.6: But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)7: Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)8: But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;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.10: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Righteousness as described in the Bible is the ability to come into the presence of God without
the sense of condemnation, guilt or shame or unworthiness. None of us can do this based on our
own righteousness. We have the righteousness of the law, which was shared in 1 Cor 6, but we
have another righteousness that comes as a free gift based on Jesus and the new covenant.
Reading the entire 5th chapter of Romans, will enable us to fully understand and see what is being said regarding the two people, Adam and Jesus that are talked about here. Through Adam, one man’s offense, sin was passed on to us, we had no choice. But through Jesus sin came on everyone and because of Jesus sacrifice, righteousness has come upon everyone that accepts Jesus as their Savior.
For the shortness of time we will read just a few of the verses in this chapter.
Rom:5:1-2: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
We have peace with God because of righeousness. We become righteous or justified, by our faith in the grace of God.
Rom 5:6-9: For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.7: For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.8: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.9: Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Rom 5:17 -21″For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18: Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.19: For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.20: Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:21: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” KJV
Rom 5:17 “For if because of one man’s trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God’s] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).” AMP
Gods plan is that we reign in life through the gift of righteousness. The righteousness that
comes through Jesus Christ. There are fruits of righteousness, but we cannot work hard enough
to have righteousness without Jesus which is a gift.
When we are born in the natural, we are born without sin, no faults, no past, or baggage. However, because of sin coming into our lives we lose that right standing, but when we are born again, we again acquire that right standing with God because of the price that Jesus paid. It is based on what Jesus did, not what man has done, what man did through Adam continually drags us down and many people like to live this way. God wants us to rise up and walk in His righteousness and be a man or woman of faith. Gods plan is that believers reign as kings in life, we may struggle in order to get into this place,
but we are to reign and rule over sin. Now the strength of sin is the law and in Romans 7 it talks
about that sin being the strength of the law, but chapter 8 tells us we are delivered from that law
of sin, we have power over sin and sin no longer dominates and we are no longer slaves to sin.
Weymouth translates Romans 5:17 as saying; “for if through the transgression of one individual
who was Adam, death made use of the one individual to seize the severity, all the more shall
those who receive Gods overflowing grace and gift of righteousness reign in life through that
one individual Jesus Christ.”
Jesus Christ is far superior to Adam.
Another translation renders the same verse as; “that one man Adam when he sinned put all men under the rule of death, but the other man Jesus Christ makes men right with God so they shall live and rule like kings, this he does for all who accept Gods rich forgiving love and His free gift.”
Righteousness is a gift, it is not even associated with works of righteousness in any way. Many people refuse to accept this gift wanting to do their own thing, but it cannot be earned by their works. We have to accept the gift of righteousness that is freely given.
2 Cor 5:17-21 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a *new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” KJV
2 Cor 5:17-21 “Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a *new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! 18 But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him]. 19 It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor). 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ’s personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].” AMP
* creature or creation – something that has not been before.
Because of becoming a new creature or creation we have received the gift of righteousness, we were once unrighteous and unworthy but now through Jesus Christ. There has been a change.
Paul states in 2 Corinthians 7, that he has “wronged no man”, even though in his earlier years before being born again, he was instrumental in persecuting many believers unto death, causing many to be imprisoned, he has been expunged by the blood of Jesus, there being no record, it has been blotted out, he is a new creature in Jesus. This is the way that God wants us to view ourselves, don’t tie yourself to the past, it will inhibit you pressing in for your future. Forget and forgive it will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
*reconciliation means reconciling and restoring the world to favor, not holding men’s trespasses, but has canceled them.
1Cor:1:30: But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: KJV
If we are taking this message to someone, the ministry of reconciliation, are we going to tell them, someone who has never been born again, that God is holding all those past sins and is keeping track of those sins, He knows everything you have ever done, and you will one day be judged for all those sins, will this sound like the good news of the gospel to them? We must tell them about the cancellation of all the sins, the price of those sins being paid in full by what Jesus did at the cross, that He shed his blood for those sins, making them new creatures, totally forgiven and given the gift of righteousness. Jesus taking all the sins of the world on himself, went into the bowels of hell suffering what we would suffer and brought out the keys of death and hell and rose from the grave. Jesus paid the price and the only thing they will be held guilty of, will be not accepting Jesus as their Savior.
“God made Jesus to be sin who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in
Him.” We are made the righteousness of Jesus. There are many scriptures that tell us who we
are in him. If we are born again we are in harmony with the Father.
Isaiah:32:17: And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. KJV
God gives us peace with him as a result of the work of Jesus. Righteousness produces peace, quietness and assurance with us forever. This is the good news of the gospel to us. We have been given a gift from God and it is not taken because of sin in our life. All we have to do is confess that sin and the blood of Jesus will cleanse us.
Isaiah:54:14-17: In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. 15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. 16: Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.17: No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Goode Christian: learning how to be a good Christian in today's world. 