Righteousness 2

Man left the garden without a right standing with God. He
could not approach the Holy God.
He stood blamed and condemned. This passed upon all.
Romans 5:12-14 (KJV)
12 [Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and
death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all
have sinned:]
13 [(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not
imputed when there is no law.] 14 [Nevertheless death reigned
from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned
after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure
of him that was to come.]
None stood without blame.
All efforts amounted to unrighteousness .They mean(t) nothing
to God.
He can NEVER be pleased.
The first sin was man depending on his own understanding
and wits. Sin has remained so.
Outside Gods word. His provision. His plan
Isaiah 64:6-7 (KJV)
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf;
and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Every attempt is failure.
Man must look away from himself if he is to stand blameless.
Just like Paul retorted, he must consider anything he does
dung.
Philippians 3:4-8 (KJV)
4 [Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any
other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the
flesh, I more:]
5 [Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, ] of[ the
tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the
law, a Pharisee;]
6 [Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the
righteousness which is in the law, blameless.]
7 [But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for
Christ.]
8 [Yea doubtless, and I count all things ] but[ loss for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for
whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count
them ] but [dung, that I may win Christ,]
If he must stand before God, he must accept that he (man)
can't satisfy God. Nothing he could do will ever do.
The Lord Jesus puts it this way.
Luke 18:9-14 (KJV)
9 [And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in
themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:]
10 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 I 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.
Those words stink before the ONLY wise God.
Justification is only given to those who refuse to count their
works but rely ONLY upon His mercy.
The publican meant be "propitiated" unto me.
The Greek word for have mercy here is same with ones used
for blood offerings.
Propitiation.
It falls in place .He was in the temple .
Rather than look unto God,He looked at the offering.
The offered animal.
He is being humbled at Gods mercy,substituting him,his deeds
with the death of an animal .
Acting otherwise will amount to pleading his works.This is the
Pharisees pride.
Since we can't qualify, He will have to qualify us.
Righteousness can only be given.
It cannot be earned. It cannot be gained. It cannot be
achieved.
It can only be received.
Abraham received this favour from God.
He was a heathen man. Idol worshipper. Godless. Sinful.
God declared him righteous. Why?
He accepted God’s righteousness.
Romans 4:1-6 (KJV)
1 [What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as
pertaining to the flesh, hath found?]
2 [For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath ] whereof[ to
glory; but not before God.]
3 [For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it
was counted unto him for righteousness.]
4 [Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of
grace, but of debt.]
5 [But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that
justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.]
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man,
unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
How did God offer him?
By the Gospel. The message of Christ.
Galatians 3:8-9 (KJV)
8 [And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the
heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto
Abraham, ] saying[, In thee shall all nations be blessed.]
Jesus is the Answer.
Hence the Gospel is called the righteousness of God revealed.
Romans 1:16-17 (KJV)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the
power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the
Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 [For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith
to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.]
The Gospel is good news.
Just like Abraham, God will justify sinners.
He will count them blameless.
They will stand before Him without a record of sins, failures,
and weakness.
Romans 5:1-2 (KJV) Therefore being justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace
wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
They will receive it by faith.
They will then be declared blameless, guiltless, and without
fault.
Only by Faith in God’s gift.
Righteousness is a gift.
Romans 5:17-18 (KJV)
17 [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.)]
It will be based on Jesus's obedience not ours.
Romans 5:19-20 (KJV)
19 [For as by one man's disobedience many were made
sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made
righteous.]
Henceforth, we qualify to stand because of the gift of God to
us, the sacrifice of His son
We continue tomorrow!
Blessed? Say I receive the gift of righteousness. It’s mine. I
cannot earn right standing with God.
I stand blameless before God because of the sacrifice of His
son