Be Righteous

Righteousness

Romans 10:1-10

Vs.3 There is a self righteousness and the righteousness of God

Righteousness: The moral character or act

Many times people struggle with attempting to live the Christian life in themselves or attempting to please God by creating a standard of laws that they believe God would be pleased with. Yet the Bible tell us that God is not impress with any we can do within ourselves.

See: Isaiah 64:6 Our righteousness declared to be as filthy rags

Romans 3:10 There is none righteous no not one

See: Romans 9:30-31 Paul makes the comparison of the Gentiles who attained righteousness by faith to the Jews who are trying to attain righteousness by the law and hath not because it is impossible

See: Phil. 3:9 Paul says being found in Christ not having his own righteousness but the righteousness which is of God by faith.

I want to express several things about “Righteousness” we should all know.

1. The God of Righteousness

This righteousness the Bible refers to that we obtain by faith in Christ is the righteousness of God!

See: Romans 3:21-26

And: 2 Cor. 5:21 We are made the righteousness of God in Christ

We are declared to be righteous by faith in Christ.

Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness we have done but according to His mercy He has save us…

See: Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness

And: Genesis 15:6 For Abram believed the LORD and it was counted unto him for righteousness

It is important for us to know that this is about His righteousness, but this does not exclude us from demonstrating it (righteousness) in our lives.

2. The Walk of Righteousness

See: Phil. 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness

It is important for us to know that this walk of righteousness is about us being led by the Holy Spirit to walk in the righteousness of God and not self-righteousness.

See: 1 John 3:7 Here John expresses the importance of the believer living a righteous life.

This seems the thing that is missing in the lives of many professing believers. It is as if they were interested in escaping the judgment of hell and going to heaven but not interested in doing righteousness.

There is obviously something wrong with that way of thinking.

Example: Who would become a fireman and would not want to perform their duties as such? We would say to that person you are not who you say you are.

See: Matthew 5:6 Jesus said on the sermon of the mount “Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness

Because of this transformed life God makes it possible for you and me in Christ Jesus to walk in the righteousness of God.

See: Romans 6:11-13 Paul expresses to us through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that we in Christ are made free from the dominion of sin and for us to yield ourselves not unto unrighteousness (sin) but unto righteousness.

See: Romans 6:18-19 In this transformation we call salvation he says we became the servants of righteousness.

It is important for us to know that this does not mean we are not capable of sinning, but that should not be our desire.

3. The Benefit of Righteousness

Listen there is not a single thing we can do to impress God in ourselves but when we walk in this righteousness of His Son we are the benefactors.

See: 1 Peter 3:12 The eyes of the Lord is over the righteous

• He Hears Their Prayers

1 Peter 3:12 goes on to say His ears are open to the prayers of the righteous

James 5:16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much

• He Provides Their Every Need

See: Psalms 37:25 David says that he has never seen the righteous forsaken nor begging bread.

Matt. 6:33 Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.

Listen this list could go on and on but I think we get the picture here. The idea is expressed in these remaining verses:

See: Psalms 58:11, Prov. 14:9 May I close by saying “Be Righteous”