Righteous Defined

This morning I am beginning to study the word “righteous” and thought it a good idea to look into the word first and then begin my study of the biblical applications.

Righteous – 1: acting in accord with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin 2a: morally right or justifiable b: arising from an outraged sense of justice or morality (Merriam-Webster Online)

As I review the definition I see that to be counted as righteous, one is to be in line with God, “accord with divine or moral law”. One also is “justifiable”. I believe we have to be careful with our view of being righteous to ensure that there is a fit into those.

Someone that is righteous is not necessarily perfect. There are some that did/do questionable things and frankly may not be liked in the world. When just viewing the actions of the person, one might view them differently although they were following the will of God. Noah was a righteous man although he did build and ark and only took his family and animals allowing for the rest of the world to be wiped out. Abraham was a righteous man who was willing to kill his son. David was a righteous man and he killed a man.

Looking at the definition, and taking into account being in line with God and being justified in action, I know that each of these men above were certainly that. If you just look at the actions of them without knowing the whole rest of the story, one might see them as evil and only in line with their own wants and desires, Noah to survive, Abraham to keep his authority, and David to demonstrate his power and strength. Yet, when you look closer at the reason for their actions you see the alignment with God, Noah told by God to take only his family to start fresh in the world, Abraham demonstrating his obedience to God no matter the cost, and David to demonstrate that with God all things are possible.

I believe that we have to be more in line with God than with anything or anyone else. This alignment with God does not guarantee anything, although it is a great place to start. When aligned with God, I will find myself morally correct and justified in my actions. Will I always get it right, OH NO. But more often than not, I will.

Am I righteous, that I do not know, as only God will determine that. I will say that I do what I can to be in alignment with God. I know that my actions that are in response to God are justified in His plan and therefore I am in His will. The consequences I may experience in this world are of little concern when I consider that I am doing things in the will and as a result of follow the law of God. I will be told when I meet the LORD in heaven as to whether or not I was righteous in this world and until then it is my responsibility to following His will and striving for righteousness.

What is your understanding of the word righteous? Are you of the opinion that it is something that the world recognizes? What if you focused instead on being aligned with God as opposed to the world?

Faith Not Works

I started my study of the word “works” as a natural progression from my study of “mercy”. I keep running into the idea that works do not get me there, they are the result of my salvation and justification. I do not “earn” anything through my works, only demonstrate my salvation and justification. This morning is no different as I again am led to Galatians and the passage titled “Justification by Faith”.

“¹⁵We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; ¹⁶yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” — Galatians 2:15-16 (ESV)

What I have learned in the passage is really nothing new. What I have come to realize this morning is that God is speaking to me. I have been struggling with the lack of acknowledgment in the works that I am doing. I feel as though I am being ignored and not gaining anything in return for those works. I have realized that it is the “man” in me that is seeking this acknowledgment and not the Christian in me. I am looking for the reward here in this world and not focus on my Kingdom purpose to spread the gospel and allowing God to do His work through me.

I will say that it is hard, knowing that I am doing the work and others seem to be doing less and getting more out of it. Whether it is safety, security, promotion, recognition, celebration, or whatever, I have to remember that all of that is of no consequence in the end and my relationship with Christ and the work I am doing for Him is what really matters. I have to know that God is taking care of me to provide for my needs and allow me to be content in it all. I am His to do with what He pleases and not for my own pleasure.

Yes, I would “feel” better in this world if my works were more recognized and appreciated. It would be easier to make it to the next knowing that my works were known to be in the best interest of all. But, it is not my works that are gaining the notoriety, it is my faith in Christ that gains me salvation and justification with Him and that is what really matters.

Lord, give me the strength to know that I have already found favor with You and You have provided for my salvation and justified me through faith in You. I am Yours and You are mine. Give me the wisdom to know that my faith is enough and I must continue my work for You to demonstrate my justification thanks to my faith in You.

What are you relying on to gain salvation and justification? Are you out there working to somehow earn it? What if you placed your faith in God, knowing that it is enough and your works are just your demonstration of the salvation and justification the LORD has provided thanks to that faith?

Stay Alive in Faith

I have been saved by Christ and justified through my faith. I now have to remain alive in that faith and how is that done but through my works. I have to continue to demonstrate my faith and justification through my works for Christ and that will keep me alive in my faith and guide me in my relationship with Christ.

“¹⁵If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ¹⁶and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? ¹⁷So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” — James 2:15-17 (ESV)

My faith and justification is not determined by my works, but it is displayed by them. I have to remember that just because I have been saved and justified, that is not the end of it all for me. I also have to remember that it is not my works that get me there, but it is my works for Christ that demonstrate that I am there. Without the works, I am simply sitting and not completing the tasks that God has given me to complete.

In my role as a professional trainer in the world I am not directly involved in the growing of and enhancing the business. Granted, that is not my role and I have accepted that training is who I am and not just what I do, yet there is a part of me that thinks that I could be adding so much more. This is the feeling I get until I take a closer look at just how I am impacting and the work that I am doing. I care for the people and do all in my scope to impact them. I do believe that they know I care for them. I do believe that I am impacting them. I do believe that work is the work for God. I also write here about what I am learning and spreading that to others. This is the work for God. I am faithful, I am justified, and I am not dead.

What works are you doing? Are they for God and as a demonstration of your faith or are you hoping to gain faith and justification? What if you relied on your faith and did the work to remain alive in that faith?

Justified Then Works

I have written a number of times about the fact that works are more done as a result of our justification and not to in some way gain justification. I have to remember that as a follower of Christ, I have already been justified and as a result, I have work to do for God, not as repayment for my justification, but I am now part of the family and I am responsible for work in the family.

“⁸The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.” — Titus 3:8 (ESV)

I notice in the above verse in the letter from Paul to Titus, “those who have believed in God” will “devote themselves to good works”. Paul does not say that the good works guide them in their believing, but that they have already believed and now will do the good works. It is those who were justified that will be compelled to do the good works. We do nothing in the way of works to gain justification, that comes from simply accepting Christ as our Savior and fully believing in Him.

“⁴But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, ⁵he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, ⁶whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” — Titus 3:4-7 (ESV)

We are saved “according to his own mercy” and not by the works that we do. I can give to all the charities, feed all of the homeless, adopt all the children, build homes and hospitals and yet without acceptance of Jesus Christ as my Savior, I will still not be justified. With that acceptance, I will not be in the business of gaining something from my giving, I will simply be giving as a part of my role as a member of the family of God.

I have said that my wife and I like to watch television series and we just started another, “New Amsterdam”, that really tugs on our heart strings. In one episode, there was a father and daughter seeking help for the ailing daughter. She needed a lung transplant and of course the father was willing to give for his daughter. He was however not a match for her yet was a match for another in the hospital. He was informed that if he gave, the hospital would do everything they could to find a donor for his daughter, and he agreed. As the episode unfolded, it turned out that the daughter was not strong enough in the moment to go through the surgery. That did not deter the father one bit. He agreed to give even expecting nothing in return. In the end the daughter did receive the transplant and all was well, but the story here is about the giving of the father, not to gain something, but to give.

There is a lot to unpack in the above, but I will simply leave it here. I have to remember to be like the father and know that I have already received my reward from Christ thanks to my acceptance of Jesus as my Savior. I have been justified already and now it is time for me to give, not to gain, but because I have received.

What are you doing as works in the world? Are you doing works to gain something? What if you accepted Christ and the justification that comes with salvation and then did works to simply give?

All In, Justified by Faith

This morning I continued my study on the word “justified” and remained in the book of Galatians. The passage is from chapter five and is titled in my bible, “Christ Has Set Us Free”. I can only think of my approach to my justification through my faith in Christ and wonder am I indeed all in or am I still looking to be justified through keeping of the law.

Let me explain a minute. I have indeed accepted Christ as my savior and believe that He died for my sins and that the sins I have committed and those that I will commit have been expunged. God has forgiven me and forgotten all that I have done. If that is true, why would I still hold on and try and influence others by insisting that they do things or that I am doing things the right way and in the spirit of Christ? Am I somehow looking for justification from man for the work that I am doing and am claiming somehow that I am righteous for the work that I am doing?

“⁴You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.” — Galatians 5:4 (ESV)

I have to get out of this thought pattern and rely solely on the justification provided me by the sacrifice of Christ and His forgiveness of my sins. Christ is enough and I have to be all in and justified by faith and not be looking to the works or law for that justification or I might as well fall away from Christ and continue to rely only on myself.

“⁵For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. ⁶For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” — Galatians 5:5-6 (ESV)

My works are important, not for my justification or salvation, but for demonstration of my salvation and justification. I have been granted the freedom from sin through my acceptance of Christ and my faith in Him. I have now to show the world what I have been given.

“¹³For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ¹⁴For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” — Galatians 5:13-14 (ESV)

I am all in for Christ. I have been justified through my faith in Him and I do NOT need to seek it anywhere or from anyone else. I only have to demonstrate my faith and that I have been justified through my actions serving others. I should not expect anything from anyone, just give to them and allow God to work through me into their lives.

Where are you looking for your justification? Are you continuing to seek it, even after you have been justified by Christ? What if you were just all in with your faith and justification from Christ and allowed Him to work through you and your actions as you demonstrate your justification through your service?

Justified by Covenant

“Covenant: a usually formal, solemn, and binding agreement” – Merriam-Webster Online

The piece of the above definition I hone in on is that of the “binding agreement”. This to me indicates that it is set and all parties are held to the agreement and it is not able to altered.

God has entered into two major covenants with man, the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. These covenants are binding agreements and were not to be altered by either party. Both covenants are still active today as they work together.

The Old Covenant was driven by the laws and rules established by God in preface to the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. This was driven by keeping the laws and rules so as to stay in right standing with God. And even when there was not the right standing with God, there was the ability to offer an annual sacrifice to Him to regain favor and right standing.

That sacrifice was the transition to the New Covenant that was enacted upon the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross. The sacrifice of Jesus took the place of the annual sacrifice to regain favor and right standing. I no longer “need” to sacrifice to God, I only need to repent and seek forgiveness for the sins I have and will commit.

“²⁴So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, ²⁶for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” — Galatians 3:24-26 (ESV)

There is still the need to follow the law, only the law I follow is that of God and not for the purpose of gaining something, but in obedience and because I have faith in Him. I follow God thanks to His promise to provide for me as he demonstrated with the death of Jesus for my sins as He was sinless. Thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus I am free from sin. Just as with the Old Covenant and the annual sacrifice, I am good to go as relates to being justified, only I will now rely on God and not the law to be sanctified and maintained in my faith. I have salvation from that sin and no longer have to present to God other than my obedience to Him.

It is the promise of the covenant that keeps me in right standing with God. I have been justified by faith, and that faith is due to the covenant that God has with me. The unwavering promise that is binding and unchangeable. I know what I have in God and know that He will always be here with me and I have nothing left to do to gain His favor. I only have a lot to do because of His favor.

How are you looking to be justified? Are you continuing to follow the law in hopes that it will do it for you? What if you followed God and knew that you are justified and that His promises will not waver or be changed?

Justified to do What is Right and NOT Just What is Written

I am justified by my faith in God, not by the laws and rules that I follow. One might think that it is the other way as in the world, as a follower of Christ, I will follow the law. But, I follow the law as it aligns with the doing what is right and in the name of the LORD.

In my role as a training professional, I come across a lot of procedures and rules and processes that are designed to get us through a particular situation and not have to wonder whether we are doing things right. Well, those processes do not account for all situations and when one of those comes up, when there is not clear directions as to what or how to proceed, there is chaos. Those that encounter those situations are paralyzed by the idea that there is no clear direction on what to do.

“¹⁰For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.’” — Galatians 3:10 (ESV)

Those who rely on being told what to do and how to proceed are bound by that process always. I have to remember that it is knowing the greater plan and understanding the idea that I have to think and apply principles as opposed to apply laws and rules and processes and procedures. This is where knowing what is right and applying that to the situation makes all the difference in the completion of the tasks and sitting paralyzed. I am not cursed by the law and only being able to do that which is written, I am free to apply that which is right thanks to the freedom given by knowing.

“¹¹Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” — Galatians 3:11 (ESV)

Now, I have to confess that our freedom of knowing, does not give us the freedom to do what we want, when we want. I still have to apply my faith to all situations. The thing is that I am not ruled by the law of man. I follow the laws of man not to gain something, but rather because it is right under the justification I have received thanks to my faith in God.

The law of man does not always align with the law of God. When that does occur, it is the law of God that I will follow as that is what is right. I have to remember that it is what is right that falls into the following of Christ, and not just that which is written down. A good amount of the time what is right is what is written, but when there are situations where there may not be something written, I have to lean on that which I know to be right thanks to the justification I have gained through my faith in God.

What do you do when you don’t know what to do? Are you paralyzed with the not knowing because someone or the law has not told you? What if you followed Christ instead of the law and rules and allowed your knowing of what is right to guide you?

Still a Sinner Yes, but Justified

I have and will continue to tell all that I am a sinner. There is nothing that will change that fact. I am a sinner. I have accepted Christ as my savior and I strive to do the will of God at all times, yet I am still a sinner. There is nothing in God’s Word that indicates that I am anything but a sinner.

“¹⁷But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not!” — Galatians 2:17 (ESV)

I am not found to be a sinner, I have always been one. Even in that, Christ does not turn away from me. I have been justified by my faith and yet I am still a sinner. Christ does not serve sin, He serves me. He knows that I am a sinner and yet he accepts me in spite of that sin. Christ gave me the offer of salvation, I took the offer freely given and I am justified through my faith in knowing that He loves and protects me always.

No matter the work I do in this world, that work does nothing for my justification in the eyes of God. I have to accept Him and know that He has saved me from my sins of old and those that are yet to come.

“¹⁶yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” — Galatians 2:16 (ESV)

I am a still a sinner, yet I am justified by my faith in Christ Jesus and His love and sacrifice for me.

What are you beliefs as relates to your status as a sinner? Are you even aware of your sin and are you trying to find justification in the world? What if you accepted your sin and Christ as your savior and allowed Him into your life so that even though you are still a sinner, you can be justified through you faith in Christ?

Can’t We as Christians Resolve with Christians

This morning as I was reading and studying, I was reminded that as Christ followers, we are to resolve our differences with other Christ followers with them and not through the law of man. We are all family members and should deal with matters between one another within the family and not involve outsiders. When I have a difference with a brother or sister in Christ I am to go to them and work to resolve as opposed to working through the law of man.

“⁴So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? ⁵I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, ⁶but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers?” — 1 Corinthians 6:4-6 (ESV)

How often have I seen that one family member takes things outside to a third party to involve them in the dealings of the family. In the case of brothers and sisters in Christ, it is no different. I am to go to my brother or sister and work with them in the name of Christ to resolve. And as brothers and sisters, an agreement should be found for all of us are to work for Christ and not for ourselves.

“¹¹And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11 (ESV)

We are justified by Christ and that gives us the ability to work for His glory and not our own. I know that I have to be reminded that it is He not me that matters. In that I am willing to make concessions to my brothers and sisters and they should be willing to do the same in order to resolve our differences and put God before one another.

There is little if no reason for me to involve man in the affairs of my Christian family. I have to remember that all of me is dedicated to Christ and when working with other Christians, I should work for the LORD in resolving and think of how to impact His work and not my own. I have been justified by Christ and so has my brother or sister in Christ and therefor our actions should not be judged by the law of man, only the law of God. My brothers and sisters are my family and we are able to take care of things in the family and not involve the world.

What differences are getting in the way of your relationships with your brothers and sisters? Are you tending to bring those and work to resolve them through the law of man? What if you kept those things in the family and worked to resolve in the name of Christ, under the law of God for His glory and not your own gain?

Which Comes First, Heart or Mouth

Which is it? Do I have to confess with my mouth before I believe in my heart or am I able to believe and then say it. Well, that seems to be a bit of a conundrum. Both are important, although their order of importance is not.

“¹⁰For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” — Romans 10:10 (ESV)

Notice in the above from Paul to the Romans, he does not indicate which is first, only that each has its own part in the process. There is also that one can believe, yet needs to profess to all allowed so that all will know and celebrate with as well as provide guidance and support for this new believer. I don’t believe there is a first or second, only that both need to happen.

When we say something, there are always going to be those that will not believe and frankly, I do not have to believe something to say it. I can say that gold has no value, when in fact I know that it does. Those are the lies that come from us as man. I am a sinner and lies come easy to me. So saying something does not make it true.

On the other hand, believing and not saying does not do any better. I can believe and even act in the way of the Christian and the follower of Christ. Yet, being that the law of God supersedes the law of man, it may appear that I am in fact not following God as those that are not believers would not understand my actions only see them. Therefore, believing in my heart does not make it complete.

I have to believe and speak to indicated to myself, through the belief in my heart, and to others though my outward profession. I have to be complete. I have to openly let everyone know that I am accepting or have accepted Christ as my savior, and I have to privately believe in my heart so that God can see my true acceptance. These work together and one should be done in concert with the other.

As to which comes first, the heart or the mouth, for some it will be one, and for others it will be the other. Some will believe in their heart and then shout it from the rooftops that they have accepted Christ and believe in Him completely. Others will speak it and then hear it from their own lips and then believe in their hearts. I am not to say one should be first and the other second as each person is their own. What I will say is to echo the words of Paul here in his letter to the Romans:

“⁸But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); ⁹because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” — Romans 10:8-9 (ESV)

What are your thoughts on the path, heart or mouth? Are you electing to do one over the other and struggling with the idea that you may have done things backward? What if you just did it your way and don’t worry with the order and only do them both, believe in your heart and confess with your mouth?