Good morning and happy Sunday, precious saints. I believe that COVID-19 has lost the battle over you and your family, IJN.
Like we said last Sunday, there are three types of Righteousnesses: 1) God’s righteousness, 2) Self-righteousness, and 3) The doing or practicing of righteousness.
The “righteousness of God” refers to a free gift from God the Father Himself, obtained by faith in Jesus Christ by everyone that believes.
“For 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)” (Rom. 5:17).
God the Father “made Christ to be sin” so that those who are wicked could become righteous.
“For God the Father hath made Jesus Christ His Son to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Christ” (2 Cor. 5:21).
Today, we are going to define “self-righteousness and the doing of righteousness.”
1. What is Self- Righteousness? Anything you do in this life without total reliance on Jesus Christ is called “Self-righteousness.”
The Bible says that you can do all things as long as you totally depend on Christ. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength” (Phil. 4:13).
The Bible says that in the eyes of God all our righteousness is as filthy (dirty menstruous) rags.
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…” (Isa. 64:6, KJV).
NLT puts it this way, “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags.”
God judges self-righteousness. Why? Self-righteousness rejects the necessary admission of our sinfulness.
Those who are sure that they are righteous can’t be saved, because the first step in following Jesus is acknowledging our need and admitting that we don’t have all the answers.
Don’t ever forget this: As long as you insist on your own qualifications as good enough to stand before God, you are cut off from hope.
A typical example of self-righteousness is found in Luke 15:28-30. His father came out and begged the eldest son, but he replied, “All these years I’ve worked hard for you and never once refused to do a single thing you asked me to do. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours came back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the finest calf we have” (Lk. 15:28-30).
The older brother of the prodigal son was angry and wouldn’t go in.
Self-righteousness presumes to judge the lives of others. In Jesus’ story, the older brother of the prodigal son was angry and resentful that the younger brother was being welcomed into the family after spending his inheritance on riotous living.
After all, the older brother must have thought, I have sacrificed and done so much for his father. The older brother judged his younger brother unworthy (unqualified) to receive such honour from their father.
How easy it is to resent God’s gracious forgiveness of others whom we consider to be far worse sinners than ourselves.
But when our self-righteousness gets in the way of rejoicing when others come to Jesus, we are no better than the Pharisees. I tell you, this prodigal son, not the older brother, returned home justified before God.
Jesus said, “For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored” (Lk. 18:14).
Self-righteousness leads: to pride, causes a person to despise others, and prevents him or her from learning anything from God.
A good example is found in Luke 18:10-14. Jesus said, “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Lk. 18:10-14).
The Pharisee in this parable did not go to the temple to pray to God but to announce to all within earshot how good he was. The tax collector (publican) went recognizing his sin and begging God for mercy. The tax collector’s prayer should be our prayer today because we all need God’s mercy every day.
The proud do not experience God’s mercy (Lk. 18:10-14). So, don’t let pride in your achievements cut you off from God. For instance, the Pharisee did not go to the temple to pray to God but to announce to all how good he was. But the tax collector went recognizing his sin and begging God for mercy.
God’s grace leaves no room for self-righteousness. When Paul’s letter was read in the Roman church, no doubt many heads nodded as he condemned idol worshipers, homosexual practices, and violent people. But what a surprise his listeners must have felt when he turned on them and said, “You are just as bad!” Paul was emphatically stressing that nobody is ever good enough to save himself or herself.
If we want to avoid punishment and live eternally with Christ, all of us, whether we have been murderers and molesters or whether we have been honest, hardworking, solid citizens, must depend totally on God’s grace.
Paul was not discussing whether some sins are worse than others. Any sin is enough to cause you to depend totally on Jesus Christ for salvation and eternal life.
We have all sinned repeatedly (Rom. 3:23), and there is no way out apart from Christ to be saved from the sin and its consequences (Acts 4:12).
2. What is the doing of righteousness? Here is the truth: Righteousness is not just only what (1) you are but also what (2) you do.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, a righteous person is somebody who is morally right or law-abiding. In several places in the Scripture, righteousness is rendered “doing the will of God.”
“...he that DOETH RIGHTEOUSNESS is righteous, even as He is righteous” (1 Jn. 3:7).
The Scripture instructs us on how God wants us to do things. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture, or the whole Scripture, is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, and for instruction in RIGHTEOUSNESS (God’s way of doing things), that is, in the nature and branches of the will of God.”
Seeking God’s way of doing things should be a priority in your life if you want to please Him. “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness (God’s way of doing things); and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33).
You should always follow righteousness in everything you do in life if you want to please God. “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Tim. 2:22).
Apostle Paul often uses the noun “righteousness” to denote ethical righteousness, a life that is pleasing to God (Rom. 6:13, 16, 18-20).
God said, “Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. 36 Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt” (Lev. 19:35-36).
“If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked” (Deut. 25:1).
God leads His children in ways that line up with His Word. God said, “I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment” (Prov. 8:20).
“…He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake” (Ps. 23:3).
What then does it mean to do righteousness? To do righteousness is to consistently follow God’s will, walking with God daily, having an unwavering faith in God and His promises, demonstrating complete integrity, and avoiding evil.
Doing righteousness is to do things God’s way, or doing things according to the Word of God. In other words to do righteousness is to practice God’s will.
Practicing righteousness is the surest way we can know that you are born of God “If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness (does things according to the Word of God) is born of Him” (Jn. 2:29).
Now he who does the will of God is righteous; he is the righteous person on all accounts; he is sincere and upright before God.
Whosoever does not do things according to the will of God is not of God. “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God…” (1 Jn. 3:10).
Realize that you will be persecuted when you do things God’s way, but be calm and rejoice for the Spirit of glory is resting on you (1 Pet. 4:14).
In Matthew 5:10 the Bible says, “Blessed are those that are persecuted for RIGHTEOUSNESS' sake (for doing things God’s way), that is, for the sake of doing the will of God.”
1 Peter 3:14 says, “But if you suffer for RIGHTEOUSNESS' sake (the sake of doing God’s will) happy are you.”
What then is the main purpose of practicing righteousness? When you do things according to the Word of God, the garment of righteousness that God the Father gave to you on the very moment you received Jesus into your life will remain unspotted, unblemished and unwrinkled. Whenever that garment of righteousness is without spot or wrinkle, you are said “to be holy.”
Holiness is therefore, the result of doing righteousness, and as long as you continue to do righteousness, your garment will remain unstained.
Perfecting holiness or the maintenance of holiness is therefore, the result of the doing of righteousness.
“Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness (does things God’s way) is righteous, just as He is righteous” (1 Jn. 3:7).
As long as you continue to do righteousness, your garment will remain unstained. In Ecclesiastes 9:8 the Bible says, “Let your garments (of righteousness) always be white (unstained; without wrinkle),…”
Conclusion: As you determine to do righteousness from today, I decree that Jehovah Nissi will fight your battles, Jehovah Rohi will lead you beside the still waters, Jehovah Elshaddai will cause you to have all sufficiency in all things, Jehovah Jireh will provide for you even in this perilous time, and you will sing the victory song at last, IJN.
Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit!
• Your friend: I. I. Madubunyi (Senior Pastor) April 26th, 2020!
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