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Discipling 12
Lesson 11
Righteousness
Concept:
"Anyone who lives on
milk, being an infant, is not acquainted with
the teaching about righteousness. But solid
food is for the mature, who by constant use
have trained themselves to distinguish good
from evil." (Hebrews 5:13-14) It is
interesting to note, in this passage that
maturity is tied to knowing about righteousness.
If I want to get off the milk of God's Word,
then righteousness is part of the meat of the
word that I had better start chewing.
Scripture states in Isaiah 64:6 that my works
of righteousness is filthy rags and Romans 3:10
explains that in our human effort there is no
righteousness produced. We can quickly conclude
that righteousness isn't something that you and
I are going to obtain in our own effort or merit.
In the natural outflow, of our lives we are
unable to achieve a righteousness that is
pleasing before God. Human effort is something
that mankind has been using to some how gain an
entrance to the Lord. We see Cain's offering was
brought to the Lord with an attitude to show the
greatness of his human effort. Genesis 4:4 shows
us that the Lord didn't receive Cain or the
offering. God's plan is that He will give us
everything that pleases Him and we simply give
it back to Him as a good steward.
Isaiah 32:17 shows us that righteousness will
bear fruit in our lives. A consequence of
righteousness will begin to produce results in
our lives, however the result is because
righteousness is present not to get righteousness.
Righteousness is received it is not obtained, but
because it is present then it causes a change to
happen in my life. Righteousness is a gift from
the Father not a payment of my human effort.
Righteousness is so powerful that when I am aware
of it I will flee sin (I Corinthians 15:34) and
so life changing that I will have boldness to
enter the very throne room of God. Righteousness
will adjust my focus from my sin to the Father's
forgiveness, from the works of my hands to
obtain the love of God to knowing that I have
the unconditional love that is always flowing
toward me, and from my human insecurity to His
divine acceptance. An understanding of
righteousness will change our lives from
elievers who are hoping for the Lord's blessings,
to a believer who is ready to share their
abundance before it ever is manifest.
Application:
Definition of Terms:
Righteousness: dikaiosune (Greek): In a broad
sense the state of him who is as he ought to
be, righteousness is the condition acceptable
to God. Integrity, virtue, purity of life,
rightness, correctness of thinking, feeling,
and acting. (Thayer)
Righteousness: tsedaqah (hebrew):
righteousness, morally (virtue) and
figuratively (prosperity): justice, cleanse,
clear self (Strong)
Matthew Henry's Commentary: "The renewed man
acts upon new principles, by new rules, with
new ends, and in new company. The believer is
created anew; his heart is not merely set right,
but a new heart is given him...Though the same
as a man, he is changed in his character and
conduct."
Righteousness: dikaiosune (Greek) equity of
character or act, by implication innocent, holy
and just, right (as self evident), justice
(the principle, a decision, or its execution),
to show forth (Strongs)
Righteousness: tsaddiq (Hebrew): One who is
right, just, clear, clean, righteous; a person
who is characterized by fairness, integrity,
and justice in his dealings. Conveys justice
and integrity in ones lifestyle.
(Spirit Filled Bible)
Righteousness: dikaiosune: (Greek): Just,
the quality of being right. Broadly, the
word suggests conformity to the revealed
will of God in all respects. Dikaisune is
both judicial and gracious. God declares
the believer righteous, in the sense of
acquitting him, and imparts righteousness
in him. (Spirit Filled Bible)
Righteousness facts: It is Christ doing right
because He did all that was required of God to
redeem men (Romans 5:18). Produced by the Holy
Spirit (Romans 14:17). God declares man free
from guilt and acceptable to Him and declares
we are righteous. (Romans 3:25) The Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit entered into the arena
of human sin so we could be set free from
the bondage of that human sin. God based
the foundation upon which He could forgive
sin, how He could declare sinners righteous,
and still be a Just God on the shed blood of
Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:26) Constant trust
or commitment to God is the just and sole
requirement of the man who is declared
righteous. (Romans 4:4-5)
Scriptures:
1. Matthew 3:15
2. Matthew 6:33
3. Matthew 21:32
4. Acts 10:34-35
5. Acts 17:31
6. Acts 24:25
7. Romans 1:17
8. Romans 3:5
9. Romans 3:21-22, 26
10. Romans 4:3-5
11. Romans 4: 11, 13
12. Romans 5:17
13. Romans 5:21
14. Romans 6:13
15. Romans 6:16
16. Romans 8:10
17. Romans 9:30-32
18. Romans 10:3-6
19. Romans 10:9,10
20. I Corinthians 15:34
21. I Corinthians 1:30
22. II Corinthians 3:9
23. II Corinthians 5:21
24. II Corinthians 6:7
25. II Corinthians 9:9-10
26. Galatians 2:21
27. Galatians 5:5
28. Ephesians 4:24
29. Ephesians 5:9
30. Philippians 1:10-12
31. I Timothy 6:11
32. II Timothy 2:22
33. II Timothy 3:16
34. Titus 3:5
35. Hebrews 11:7
36. Hebrews 12:11
37. James 1:20
38. I Peter 2:24
39. II Peter 2:21
40. I John 2:29
41. Isaiah 64:6
42. Genesis 15:6
43. Deuteronomy 6:25
44. Psalms 11:7
45. Psalms 22:31
46. Psalms 51:14
47. Psalms 89:16
48. Psalms 103:6
49. Proverbs 10:2
50. Proverbs 21:21
51. Isaiah 32:17-18
52. Isaiah 61:10-11
53. Hosea 10:12
54. Amos 5:7
55. Micah 6:5
Summary:
Remember as you continue to
study righteousness, keep in mind that
righteousness is a positional truth and a
temporal truth. The positional truth states
that we are righteous as a gift from the Lord.
Because of this gift we have access at any
time into the throne room of God. We have been
made righteous by the gift of righteousness
that Christ gave us at new birth. I can never
have better standing before the Lord than I
have right now. The Lord accepts me because of
the cleansing of His blood and what He has made
me into by His great love. There is also a
temporal righteousness that needs to flow out
of my inner man that makes me right. That is
a force that is ever increasing as I submit to
His Lordship and allow His Spirit to lead my
spirit into His ways. As I learn to walk in the
spirit, then the fruits of righteousness begins
to mature in my life and my temporal walk and
my positional standing begin to match up. We
want what we are in heaven to be how we are on
the earth. What heaven is saying about us,
needs to be what the people on the earth are
saying about us.
Action Point:
Begin to speak in your
prayer time that you are righteous and that
you have access to the throne of God. Declare
that you have on the garments of salvation,
which includes the breastplate of righteousness
(Ephesians 6:14). Take God at His word and know
that you are righteous and that righteousness
will change how you handle every situation.
Let's believe that the force of righteousness
is going to move you in a position of acting
and believing right.
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