“Because of Jesus… Righteousness is Possible - (Part 1)”
Sunday, January 21, 2024
What is Righteousness?
Genesis 15:6 (NIV)
“Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
Before the Law; Before atonement of sacrifice; He heard the voice of God, and simply chose to trust the voice… and because of His trust in the Lord, the Lord “counted it” to him as righteous.
Genesis 17:1 (NIV)
“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless.’”
Because of the righteousness imputed to him by God [because of Abram’s trust in Him], Abram could be seen as and walk “blameless” before the LORD.
Why Do I Need to Be Righteous?
My need to be seen as blameless and walk blamelessly before the Lord.
Romans 3:9-20 (NIV)
“…Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.
All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.’ [Character]
‘Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.’ ‘The poison of vipers is on their lips.’ ‘Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.’ [Conversation]
‘Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.’ ‘There is no fear of God before their eyes.’ [Conduct]
Now we know what whatever the law says, is says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.”
Paul puts on his “lawyers” hat and brings forth the charges against us as defendants… a 14-point charge using Old Testament Scriptures… the charges? Our inability to be righteous, specifically in three areas: Character, Conversation, Conduct!
His Summary Statement:
Romans 3:23 (NIV)
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”
How Am I Made Righteous?
Romans 3:21-26 (NIV)
But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished – he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Our unrighteousness was clearly defined by our Character, Conversation, and Conduct.
Now, made completely righteous through no part of our own… but through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ, and His sacrificial atonement.
Where we miss the mark…
- Trying to “earn” our righteousness by our Character, Conversation, & Conduct.
How Do I Live Righteously?
Because of Jesus… I Can Live For Righteousness.
I Peter 2:24 (NIV)
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness… [I Am Alive in my Righteousness]
We are not just MADE Righteous… We are Called to Live for Righteousness.
The Sin Nature Problem…
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Where we also miss the mark:
- Trying to “earn” our righteousness through Character, Conversation, & Conduct.
- Trying to “keep” our righteousness through Character, Conversation, & Conduct.
My Righteousness in Christ Is Not a Status, it is a Covenant Relationship.
My Righteousness in Christ is Secure… Not Because of Me, But Despite Me.
The Expectation is Not Just to Be Righteous… But to Live for Righteousness.
Romans 6:1-4 (NIV)
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.