17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Abundance of grace is ours through Christ! And so is the GIFT of righteousness! How we, as God's kingdom people, should love righteousness, goodness, and every right path! If we embrace these things, we shall 'reign in life through Christ'!
What is righteousness? Righteousness is right standing with God. And righteousness is one of three key elements in the kingdom of God. For the kingdom of God is 1.righteousness, 2. peace, and 3. joy in the Holy Ghost.
First off, even though this is about the effects of grace and righteousness, it is important to point out how one can even enter into the kingdom of God. The Word makes it clear that if we are serious about our relationship with God, we must be born again of water and of the Spirit. In John 3, Jesus tells a religious leader of Israel that you must be born again,
John 3
1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
The key to enter into the kingdom is repentance. Repentance is not only a turning away, but a turning unto something. In repentance, we abhor, and turn away from all of those things that have separated us from God, confess them, and turn unto God, Who is able to wipe away all of our sin, because of the sacrifice the Lord made at Calvary.
Righteousness is simply a fruit of abiding in the King. The effects of righteousness are wide ranging, but I will list many of my favorite attributes of living a righteous life through Christ.
Isaiah 32:17 says that the fruit of righteousness is both quietness and confidence forever. So in this passage, righteousness is tied to rest and assurance, like most other Scriptures dealing with the fruit of righteousness.
It is also important to point out that there are different types of righteousness; one of the self, the other rooted in God's goodness and nature. Self-righteousness asserts that we are holy apart from God. This take on righteousness is both hypocritical and an affront to the Lord.
The righteousness that is from above is tied into faith, for it is by faith that we can touch the Lord and have His life flow through us. Abraham was called the man of faith and because of his faith, or belief in the Word of God, this belief, because of his faith, he was 'accredited as being righteousness'. So a basic truth is that the righteousness we receive upon salvation is not rooted in ourselves, but in The Truth Himself, Jesus.
Psalm 89 says that righteousness and justice are the foundations of the Throne of God. If these are the foundations of the Throne, then surely they are apart of the King, Who sits upon the Throne's, nature.
Righteousness is something that is able to save us as well. Proverbs tells us that wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. Not only does righteousness deliver, but it also protects. Proverbs 13 says that righteousness guards the man of integrity.
I have searched out the Word and can only find positive and uplifting attributes tied to the man who seeks after righteousness. After all, Jesus states in the NT, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness'. Proverbs 21 states that those who pursue righteousness and love find life, prosperity, and honor.
So besides all of the up sides of righteousness, pertaining to life and godliness, what are the hindrances of it?
This will be discussed in the next post!
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