Righteousness

Righteousness

“If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.” 1 John 2:29. “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.” 1 John 3:10.

The new life is a righteous life in thought, word, and deed. If righteousness is not evident in all our ways, then the new life has not yet been manifested.

As natural human beings none of us are righteous before God. We are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Rom. 3:10, 24. Nevertheless, the fact that we are justified and have peace with God, does not mean that we possess all the righteousness and peace that dwells in God. Jesus says we are blessed if we hunger and thirst after this righteousness—then we shall be satisfied. Matt. 5:6. Then we will also receive the Holy Spirit who is the teacher of righteousness. Joel 2:23. If we receive instruction from this teacher, we will truly learn what it means to be righteous.

As a rule, people have a very superficial notion of what righteousness is. Most people think they are completely righteous if they are more or less righteous in money matters. However, if someone doubts their righteousness, they get offended, and the evil manifests itself. This kind of righteousness is only hay, stubble, and straw. The righteousness that suffers injustice with joy is from God. Then we reckon that we are cursed, and we do not count our lives dear to ourselves—which is only righteous. If this is our attitude, we cannot but experience what is written in Proverbs 4:18: “But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.”

The teacher of righteousness instructs us from morning till evening as to how we should forget ourselves and live for the others. Thus we are constantly led into a richer and happier life. “Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.”

God has always paid close attention to people, and when He was to make mention of the names of some who were righteous He mentioned Noah, Daniel, and Job. Ezek. 14:14.

We read about Noah that he was a just man, blameless in his generations. Gen. 6:9. “Then the Lord said to Noah, ‘Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.’” Gen. 7:1. When Christ returns, He will fetch those who are righteous and blameless in their generation. Phil. 2:15. They will find grace in His eyes just as Noah did.

Job was one of the three most righteous men, and we can read about him in Job 29. When he went out to the gate by the city, and took his seat in the open square, the young men withdrew out of deep respect, and the aged arose and stood. They displayed the deepest reverence for Job because of his righteous life. He delivered the poor who cried out, and the fatherless, as well as the one who had no helper. He caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. He clothed himself with righteousness, and it dwelled with him, and he bore justice like a robe and a turban. He was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. He was a father to the poor, and he searched out the case of those who were unknown to him in order to help them if at all possible. He smiled at those who were discouraged, and they could not darken the light of his countenance. This is a good sign of righteousness in its deepest sense. He sat among them as a chief, and he dwelt as a king in the army, as one who comforts mourners.

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser . . . .” Prov. 9:9. Their hunger and thirst to learn to know God’s righteous laws impels them to God’s wisdom and knowledge. In Psalm 119:164 we read, “Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous laws.”

We must possess this love for the laws of righteousness if they are to be revealed to us. It is impossible to conduct ourselves properly in the church of the living God without knowing these laws. We owe it to each other to love one another just as Christ loved us. This is where we attain to righteousness at its highest level. This righteousness leads to perfect unity and brotherly love. We are also indebted to all men, and we owe it to them to be thankful for them and to pray for them.

Paul exhorted Timothy to pursue righteousness. 2 Tim. 2:22. May we also be along in this pursuit of righteousness that permeates everything. God’s kingdom consists of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Rom. 14:17. Everything in God’s kingdom consists of righteousness, so we can pursue, run, hunger, and thirst for it as long as we live. Paul finished his race in righteousness, and the crown of righteousness was laid up for him. 2 Tim. 4:8.

Those who have led many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever. Dan. 12:3. In Matthew 13:43 Jesus says that the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The Lord rewards us according to our righteousness. Ps. 18:20.

On the day when the Lord makes us His jewels, we will again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between someone who serves God and someone who does not serve Him. Then the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and we shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves. Mal. 3:17-18; 4:2.

The resurrection is also called the “resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:14), and the bridal garment is called the “righteous acts of the saints.” Rev. 19:8. “Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in.” Isa. 26:2.

“Blessings are on the head of the righteous . . . .” Prov. 10:6. “The memory of the righteous is blessed . . . .” V. 7. “The mouth of the righteous is a well of life . . . .” V. 11. “The righteous has an everlasting foundation.” V. 25. “The hope of the righteous will be gladness.” V. 28. “The righteous will never be removed . . . .” V. 30. “The house of the righteous will stand.” Prov. 12:7. “The thoughts of the righteous are [only] right . . . .” V. 5. “The root of the righteous cannot be moved.” V. 3. “God gives the righteous a firm root.” V. 12. “No grave trouble will overtake the righteous . . . .” V. 21. “The righteous guides his neighbor.” V. 26. “A righteous man hates lying.” Prov. 13:5. “The light of the righteous rejoices . . . .” V. 9.

“Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’” 2 Tim. 2:19.

May God give us abundant grace in these last days so that we can devote ourselves to righteousness in all our ways, with all our heart and with joy. We live in the time in which unrighteousness abounds and the love of many has grown cold. People pursue material things and everything that is great, fashionable, and modern. Advertisements display many things you can have in your home simply by making a small down payment and the rest on terms. These “rests” can take fairly long to pay off, perhaps much longer than the covetous moment. People are tied up and totally bound like slaves to their work in order to pay off all the things that they could have possibly done without. They are not at liberty to use what they have to serve God according to the laws of righteousness. The perfect thing is to buy as little as possible for yourself and to pay cash. Then you are free to make friends with the unrighteous mammon in the heavenly mansions and increase your capital there.

Let us be faithful in everything. If we have bought something and then hasten to pay for it with joy, we have made a small beginning on the way of righteousness, which is not to be despised.

God said, “You have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” Job 42:7. How can a person be discouraged, anxious, and perhaps entertain the thought of giving up if he thinks and speaks what is right about God? Does He not have all power in heaven and on earth, and is not His way perfect? Do we doubt His righteous leading with us? Or do you perhaps believe that He has gone beyond His righteous and divine laws when it concerns you? Not at all! He has never failed in the decisions He has made. Let us thankfully and humbly acknowledge that God is right, because He treats us with wisdom and goodness. Everything He does is just and very good. He is the King of righteousness. He strengthens and helps us according to His just laws, according to our upright longing for godliness.

“Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them . . . .” Isa. 3:10. Our righteous God shall see to it. The entire Scriptures are filled with promises for the righteous.

Righteousness, peace, and joy always belong together. Jesus was anointed with the oil of gladness above His brethren because He loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. Heb. 1:9.

“He who is unjust, let him continue to be unjust; he who is filthy, let him continue to be filthy; he who is righteous, let him continue to do righteousness; he who is holy, let him continue to become more sanctified.” Rev. 22:11.