The Beatitudes (Part 9): Blessed are the those we Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness (Part 2)

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Righteousness (noun) - 100 times in New Testament

Righteous (adjective) - 40 times

to be just

Old English: Rightwiseness

God is morally and spiritually perfect

Man is the opposite

Corrupt, depraved, sinful, vile and godless

Unrighteousness

Romans 3:5 ESV

But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)

Romans 3:9–11 ESV

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, as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.

Romans 3:20 ESV

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Righteousness from God comes through faith

Romans 3:21–22 ESV

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

a man is justfied by faith

Romans 3:28 ESV

For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Peter speaks of righteousness obtained by faith

2 Peter 1:1 ESV

Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

Original Sin - rejected by modern church

Robert Schuller (US Television Preacher) - writes heresy, proported as doctrine

It is hard to concoct a sentence containing the words “sinner”, “God”, “Grace” and “Christ” that could be more heretical !

The Beatitudes for Today Right with God

In Self-Esteem: The New Reformation, he writes, ‘The most serious sin is the one that causes me to say, “I am unworthy”. For once a person believes he is an “unworthy sinner” it is doubtful if he can really honestly accept the saving grace God offers in Jesus Christ.

The Beatitudes for Today Right with God

On this issue at least, Scripture and Schuller are not even on speaking terms.

Bible teaches....

Psalm 145:17 ESV

The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.

God is perfect

Romans 1:18 ESV

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

We deserve judgement

Romans 2:13 ESV

For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.

Perfect obedience in our own power is though impossible

We are therefore “not worthy”!

Obedience is required - for righteousness

Galatians 3:10 ESV

For 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.”

This is a death blow against “good works as a means of justification”

Not even religious acts can save you

Isaiah 64:6 ESV

We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Jesus - The Substitute

Hebrews 4:15 ESV

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

1 Peter 3:18 ESV

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

The Beatitudes for Today The Substitute

Theologians used to speak of Jesus as a ‘public person’, meaning that everything he did was on behalf of others. They were spelling out the Bible’s teaching that he came into the world on behalf of others, lived on behalf of others, resisted temptation on behalf of others and died on behalf of others. In all of these actions, Jesus was a substitute for sinners, doing for them what they could not do for themselves. He lived the life they could not live and died the death they should have died.

The perfect substitute

2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Through trust in Christ, all the sinners’ sin is debited to Christ

and Christ’s righteousness is credited to the sinner

Romans 3:26 ESV

It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Justification means more than forgiveness

The sinner who trust in Christ is declared by God to be righteous

Fulfills both demands

Absolute obedience to its precepts

death penalty for disobedience

Sin is not removed, but the price has been paid

Being brought into favour with God

James teaches of Righteousness in Action

Hunger & Thirst for righteousness

James 1:22 ESV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Knowledge of God’s righteousness and purposeful desire and endeavour towards obedience are required

James 1:25 ESV

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Righteousness is demonstrated in our perseverance and actions

Our Righteousness Shines

A life embrasing sin cannot be Righteous

e.g. Liar

Next time

Matthew 5:6 ESV

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

For they shall be satified

Hymn -

Closing Prayer

Doxology

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