Righteousness

Mathew 5:6. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Righteousness is a quality or a characteristic which the bible keeps emphasizing upon. If we do not practice righteousness, we are doomed as per the bible. But, what is Righteousness and how do we gain this?

The first thing we know is that one of God’s characteristics is righteousness.

Psalms 31:1 says “Deliver me in thy righteousness” meaning that God, your actions are so perfectly right that you would not want to let me be unsaved. If you count my righteousness to deliver me, it will be a totally failed equation and there is no chance for me to be delivered. Please deliver me as you are good and righteous. Yes, we get to be saved not because we are good, but our God is good.

We understand this very clearly in Romans 3:26. As God was righteous, it was very unfair to let all our sins be ignored. They deserve severe punishment. But, it was his Amazing Grace that made God Himself take up that whole punishment.

Coming to our primary subject, we should understand that God expects us to be righteous. (Mat 5:20).

But, righteousness is not a qualification we attain by some deeds.

The Bible never tells us to attain righteousness. We are expected to give our best in trying. This should not be a mere desire that we want or long for. We desire richness, but need food to live. Righteousness takes that place where we cannot live without it.

For a better understanding, let us see how the Bible describes this…

      1. Righteousness as a PATH

Prov 12:28. “In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality.” This path definitely does not lead to destruction. A path that gives us life and we escape death if we follow it.

All other paths are just called as “Wandering” in Ps 107:4-7. We can easily see that this statement is very much true in our lives. When we did not know Jesus, we had no motives, useless ambitions and meaningless lives. After Jesus came to us, we got a very wonderful purpose for living – for His Kingdom.

So, this path is not an option, but the only way to the good destiny.

The encouragement is that we are not expected to move alone in this path. God has given wonderful promises.

God introduces this path to us. (Ps 16:11). God directs us in this path. (Pro 4:11). God teaches us with procedures to move in this path (Ps 25:4). He watches over the path (Ps 1:6). He makes the path smooth for us to travel (Is 26:7)

In Romans 9:31, 32 we can see that our works does not lead us in this path, our faith does. We must depend more and more in Christ, humble ourselves and follow him to stay in this path or else we will stumble. In Hosea 14:9 we read that the rebellious stumble in this path. Any display of arrogance or self-acclamation is clearly contradicting to righteousness.

      2. Righteousness as an ACCOUNT.

We can read from Genesis to the epistles that “It was credited as righteousness”. Our deeds and importantly, our “Faith” is saved every time we display it.

This illustration emphasizes that God is counting our righteousness and we are accountable to Him in the end. And we get results out of out this account. The details in Romans 4 which explains Abraham’s faith will explain that God looks at minute details our faith to credit that into our accounts.

Like Abraham our deeds will be credited as righteousness if they display our faith on God. Just obedience on specific verses is not sufficient. Those can be seen at Pharisees and other lawmakers. Our thirst to righteousness will lead to a level where we not just obey the law, but try to please the Almighty in every action we do. 

      3. Righteousness as a Revelation (Rom 1:17)

“For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed”

Yes. Righteousness was impossible till our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ came. The righteousness we pursue is revealed through him. There was no role model till he showed his life. There was no hope for this path until the Savior delivered us.

But, this revelation is not just for us alone. As the previous verse states, we should not be ashamed in revealing this righteousness to everybody so that all men will be in this righteous path.

4.       Righteousness as a Gift (Rom 3:22)

“This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe”

This gift is for ALL. There is no room for boasting. All of us just believed in him.

      

       4. Righteousness as a Master (Rom 6:18)

“You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”

Verses 15 to 23 gives us a good explanation on how we should submit ourselves, offer our bodies to God so that he leads us towards holiness. Our freedom is from sin and bondage and leads to happiness and peace. This does not give us freedom to perform all our thoughts. The remembrance of being slaves to righteousness at all times, especially temptations will help us pursue in this path.

Jesus compares this longing with hunger and thirst as these two feelings surpass every other need in the human body. If we are real hungry we cannot concentrate in working, reading or even entertainment. The needs are required to be attended immediately. Likewise, when we sin or move away from God, it is necessary to stop everything else and then fix our relationship with the Almighty first and should not prolong.

The righteousness of God is so magnificent and huge for us to celebrate and depend upon. The greatest step in salvation is that God himself helps us grow righteousness in our lives. All we have to do is just believe and obey.