Sunday, 25 December 2016

THE BIBLE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies); ND/HD (Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.
Call: +2348037346939 E-mail: professorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com
IMG_20160426_142331.jpg 
THE BIBLE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS

Devotional Text: Psalm 15


Introduction:
Theologically, righteousness is the state of being right with God, and by way of information, the righteousness that makes one right with God is Christ-centered and not self-centered, (Rom. 3:21-23). Practically, too, righteousness is the quality of doing things right,, principally, in line with the stipulations of the Holy Scripture, which in effect, is a demonstration of holiness, purity, uprightness and rectitude. The righteousness that commands rightness with God must be beyond self or mere presentation of religious good works, which was the form of the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, which Jesus cautions against, when He says… “Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, , hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore, you will receive greater condemnation”, (Matt.2314). In line with this, there must be no hypocrisy in our righteousness, if our righteousness must be accepted by God. In other words, our righteousness must be transparent and full of godliness and manifested through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, (Phil. 3:8-9).

GENERAL REMARKS

(1)       Righteousness inspires upright walk in someone, (Psalm 15:2A)
(2)       Righteousness imbues speaking the truth in the heart, (vs. 2B)
(3)       Righteousness does not backbite, nor does evil to neighbours, (vs. 3)
(4)       Righteousness generates integrity, (vs. 4).
THE FUTILITY OF SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Self righteousness is not acceptable to God. Thus, Isaiah remarks that, …“we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities like the wind, have taken us away”, (64:6). In furtherance, the Apostle Paul says, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law, for righteousness to everyone who believes”, (Rom. 10:1-4). The cited Scriptures shows that God does not look at anyone from the vantage of his personal righteousness, but from the point of the Righteousness of our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, (vs. 4), and any righteous act done outside Christ, is but a filthy rag before Him (Isa. 64:6). By this, therefore, this lesson stresses that;
(i)                    Our self acts of righteousness cannot save us (Rom. 10:1-4), since they are regarded
as rubbish before God, (Isa. 64:6)
(ii)                  God’s Righteousness is not by self acts of good deeds (vs. 6), but by faith of Jesus Christ, (Rom. 3:22)
(iii)                 Outside Jesus Christ, no acts of righteousness are acceptable to God (Rom. 10:3-4), since
 self righteousness cannot achieve the excellence of the knowledge of Christ, (Phi. 3:8-9).
EVIDENCES OF GENUINE RIGHTEOUSNESS
The main text of this lesson concretely gives the evidences of genuine righteousness, which God accepts. To this end, it notes that a person of genuine righteousness is a person of upright walk, as well as one who speaks the truth from the heart (Psalm 15:2). Such a fellow also does not backbite, nor does evil to his neighbour, as he, equally does not take up reproach against his friend, (vs. 3). From the text, as well, one notices that a person with genuine righteousness does not honour those who are morally bankrupt, but honours those who fear the Lord, (vs. 4). Furthermore, one who possesses the quality of genuine righteousness does not change his mind when he vows or becomes committed to a promise, nor does he give out loan on the basis of receiving interest from the needy (vs. 4-5).  And, he does not take bribes against the innocent, (vs. 5). The cited biblical text shows righteousness in its practical terms, as it concludes that, “he who does these things shall never be moved”, (vs. 5). In this connection, please observe that;
(i)                    “treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death”, (Rom. 10:2)
(ii)                  “riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death”, (Prov. 11:4)
(iii)                 “in the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death, (Prov. 12:28).
EVIDENCES OF FALSE RIGHTEOUSNESS
The expression of Jesus,…”Beware of the leaven (doctrine) of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be made known (Luke 12:1-2) shows that the Pharisees were really a religious sect of false righteousness. In certain occasion,  Jesus refers to them, with their counterparts, the Scribes, as hypocrites, and labelled them, painted sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness, (Matt. 23:27). This, indeed implies that the Scribes and the Pharisees were peoples of false righteousness, which became evidenced in their religious activities, as they prayed in pretence (Matt. 23:14), and equally paid tithe, showing some works of righteousness, but were full of wickedness and injustices, (vs. 23-26). This correlates the attitude of most members of the Christian church of this era, who;
(i)                    spend much time praying for the needy, but are heart-hardened in helping them, (James 2:14 -17)
(ii)                  pay tithe, but are full of wickedness and immorality, (Matt. 23:23)
(iii)                 attend church activities regularly, but live in secret sins, (Luke 12 2-3)
In conclusion, please not that God is righteous and loves righteousness. However, it is important to quickly remind ourselves that self-righteousness does not find approval in His Sight, as He equally shuns false righteousness, which was the stuff of the Scribes and Pharisees. Thus, this lesson shows that, it is only in Christ Jesus that righteousness can find approval in the Sight of the Most High, (Rom. 3:21-23). EMBRACE HIM TODAY!


No comments:

Post a Comment