Understanding Righteousness

Rev. Samuel S Konjah, from Ghana

Understanding Righteousness

Righteousness means right standing with God through Christ

Righteousness is a gift

The gift of righteousness
For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.  (Romans 5:17, ESV)

We are made righteous

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV)
Righteousness is conferred on us

How are Righteousness comes

It does not come by works.
It does not come by growth.
Our believing makes us righteous.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  (Romans 10:10, ESV)

By faith in Jesus Christ.

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-  22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:  (Romans 3:21-22, ESV)

Abraham believed unto righteousness
What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,  (Romans 3:9, ESV)

just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as
righteousness"?  (Galatians 3:6, ESV)

Noah believed unto righteousness
By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.  (Hebrews 11:7, ESV)

God's idea of righteous man
One whose transgression is forgiven.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (1 John 1:9, ESV)
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.   (Psalm 32:1, ESV)

Whose sin is covered.

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.   (Psalm 32:1, ESV)

Whose iniquity is not counted.

Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.   (Psalm 32:2, ESV)

Righteous men have faults too
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.  (James 5:16, ESV)

Elijah was just like you

1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.  2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow."  3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.  4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers."  (1 Kings 19:1-4, ESV)

You have a right standing with God
You have believed in His son.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  (Romans 10:10, ESV)

He has made you righteous

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV)

You have received the gift
For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.  (Romans 5:17, ESV)

It's God's righteousness, not yours
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:  (Romans 3:22, ESV)
no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD."   (Isaiah 54:17, ESV)

Be confident in your Righteousness
God sees Jesus, not you.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV)

Come boldly into His presence

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  (Hebrews 4:16, ESV)

The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.   (Proverbs 28:1, ESV)

He longs to hear from you

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."   (1 Peter 3:12, ESV)

Your prayers avail much

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.  (James 5:16, ESV)

Always walk in this knowledge

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV)
God bless us all.
I pray the Lord will help us to walk in righteousness.