PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies); ND/HD
(Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.
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