231. Righteousness

Justified by faith. Just before leaving this world, Jesus prayed to His “righteous Father.” John 17:25. “The world has not known You, but I have known You.” The world does not know God as a righteous Father. It does not recognize any righteousness at all, for there is no one who is righteous, no not one. Rom. 3:10. So righteousness is therefore a heavenly gift that comes down to us from above. It was brought by the One who could say: “Righteous Father,” and of whom the righteous Father could say: “This is my beloved Son, hear Him.” He was the “Beloved Son of Righteousness.”

But now the righteousness of God is revealed apart from the law, through faith in Jesus Christ. Rom. 3:21 and 22. We receive this revelation when Jesus dwells in our hearts by faith. Eph. 3:17. The law could condemn people, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But now, by faith, we can be made alive—apart from the law (Gal. 3:21) because the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit. 1 Cor. 15:45.

Being made alive is the same as being placed on resurrection ground, and being raised up is the same as being justified. This is why it is written that He was delivered up for our offenses and “was raised for our justification.” Rom. 4:25. But not only is Christ raised up, we are raised up together with Him. Col. 3:1.

Righteousness reigns. Righteousness reigns “before the cross” by the law, “on the cross” by grace and righteousness, and “after the cross” by itself in all its liberated glory—totally unrestrained. “On the cross” righteousness wars against the body of sin until it is completely destroyed. In this good fight of faith, our conscious will must be in agreement with righteousness. The triumph of righteousness over Satan and sin will be manifested in a suffering human being who resists sin and Satan unto bloodshed. Righteousness triumphs over death when it is united with a soul in the blood of the covenant (Heb. 13:20) on the basis of the resurrection.

It is this bloody death and annihilation that makes it possible for us human beings who have sin in the flesh to immediately partake of righteousness. Therefore righteousness must reign over us by grace (Rom. 5:21) so that it can eventually reach its goal. It shall not be in vain; rather it will joyfully unite us with Christ in the likeness of His death as long as we ourselves hunger and thirst after righteousness. The Lord is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works. Psalm 145:17.

Righteousness must be coupled with love and longsuffering because now it must wait for those who will allow themselves to be saved; and it must wait for the time when it can exercise its judgments over the ungodly. 1 Pet. 3:20. Because Christ died for all, righteousness is revealed to all people’s consciences. This is why there are good laws and righteous judges in the world, and every human being can search out for himself what is right.

The goal of righteousness is to put everything in its rightful place by her own judgments. And since these judgments supersede all other judgments, righteousness alone will remain after having exposed and conquered every other judgment. Righteousness is crowned, and she will crown all those who submit to her laws. 2 Tim. 4:8; Rev. 2:10.

Lord, God of Israel! You are righteous. Ezra 9:15. You fulfilled Your word; therefore You are righteous. Neh. 9:8. The Lord loves the righteous. Psalm 146:8. He blesses the home of the righteous. Prov. 3:33. The path of the righteous is like a shining light, which shines brighter and brighter until the full day. The expectation of the righteous is gladness. Prov. 10:28. The righteous will never be removed. Prov. 10:30.

Therefore blessed is the one about whom it can be said: “He is a righteous man; she is a righteous woman.”