Oct 16, 2011, Righteousness that comes by Faith; Presented by Paul G.

A. Definition of Righteousness
1) Jesus on Righteousness: Sermon on the Mount (SOTM, will tie in throughout lesson) a) Matt 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness They shall be filled i) The most basic pursuits of hunger and thirst define the nature of the pursuit of righteousness leading to fulfillment. b) Matt 6:1 Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, if you do you, will have no reward from your father in heaven. i) Righteousness must be sought with the right motives, seeking Gods will. c) We had better understand what Righteousness is and is not d) We have to understanding in our heads (to engage faith) and then move that to our hearts(actions) 2) This is not easy taskJohn was killed because the religious leaders did not understand. a) Matt 9:9-12 I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners b) tt 21:32, John came to show you the way of righteousness, but you did not believe him. c) Matt 23:28, In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. i) The appearance of righteousness can be very deceptive. ii) It is easier to look righteous than to BE righteous. iii) The perception of righteousness (self righteousness) iv) When we understand righteousness we understand these passages 3) So what is Righteousness?

"Righteousness," as it is understood in the OT is a thoroughly Hebraic concept, foreign to the

Western mind and at variance with the common understanding of the term. The failure to comprehend its meaning is perhaps most responsible for the view of the OT religion as 'legalistic' and as far removed from the gracious-ness of the NT. Rather "righteousness" is, in the old Testament, the fulfillment of the demands of a relationship, whether that relationship be with men or with God. Each man is set within a multitude of relationships: king with people, judge with complainants, priests with worshipers, common man with family, tribesman with community, community with resident alien and poor all with God. And each of these relationships brings with it specific demands, the fulfillment of which constitutes righteousness. ("Righteousness" by E. R. Achtemeier in Interpreter I Dictionary #the Bible, Page 2 of 17 , Abingdon Press 1962, volume 4, pp.80-85). 1

a) True Righteousness is always defined in the context of relationship: With God and/or with other persons. Righteousness is broad description and not just church term i) Therefore - You cannot be righteous all by yourself. i.e. b) A way of determining righteousness is whether we have met the demands of a given relationship. i) Righteousness is not measured by whether we think we are legally correct, but whether when all is said and done, the demands of the relationship have been met (even if the other person does not admit it) Rom 12:18 If it is possible as far as it depends on you, live at peace with all men ii) Righteous within any relationship, the two thieves, even evil acts can be righteous c) We can be technically right and still not be righteous. i) Even if we can prove on paper, with a lists and arguments that we are right, then we are living by sight and are really just being self righteous Share family situation. ii) Matt. 7:21ff Many will come to me on that day Lord, Lord we did this, we did that They had it all down on paper. Jesus called them evildoers. d) To God, the demands of righteousness encompass ALL relationships, no matter how deep or adversarial: ranging from God, spouse, children, colleagues, neighbors, strangers, and even enemies. We see a trend of importance/priority but does God? {Rhetorical} 4) Meeting the demands of your relationship with God, and men by Gods will a) demand of a relationship with God (defined by the Bible) is that we obey Him and that He is honored, worshiped and glorified in that relationship b) The demands of our right relationship with men (as defined in the Bible) are that we love one another, as demonstrated by how we ____? accept, forgive, repent, and give grace to one another. i) The demands of our relationship with God to be righteous with others challenges us to: (1) confront sin Why? Because sin destroys right relationship (2) initiate in resolving conflict Why? Because conflict destroys relationships (3) pray for our enemies and those who persecute us Why? Because how else can we have a right relationship with our enemy? (4) forgive unconditionally Why? Because unforgiveness destroys relationships (5) Keeping no record of wrongs Why? Because bitterness, anger, rage hurt

a) Matthew 6:33 (NIV) 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. i) God promises to free us from worry about the basics of life, food, shelter, clothing, even family SO THAT we can focus on righteousness in all our relationships. Why is being righteous difficult, or what is it that makes it difficult? self reliance, self

B. Righteousness through faith in Jesus, and the law

1) Rom 3:21-22, Law vs Sermon on the mount: rule of living changed, now called higher b) SOTM has an over the top quality wherein we are called to live beyond the laws. In the kingdom you live seeking extraordinary relationships by an extraordinary life (1) Matt 5:43-48 lover your enemies (BTW is the 1st call to love in NT) (2) V47 more than others Greek term for exceed ordinary or that which is needed (a) Matt 5: righteousness greater than the Pharisees (b) John 10:10 life to the full same term in greek as used in Matt5: (c) Ephesians 1:7 lavish on us again the same term translated differently (d) V45 righteous and unrighteous defined. Back to application of the term righteousness in Romans 2) Rom 3:23-26- READ NASB version, read carefully in context and right definition of terms, i.e. wherein justice is replaced by righteousness. 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 3) Rom 4:13 Gods plan to build his Church was not by laws and all the rules of man, but by righteousness afforded by faith in Jesus and through the indwelling of the HS. Rom14:7, 15:3 4) Rom 4:15-16, No law means no sin (no missing the mark on a specific offense); this only makes sense in the context of righteousness. (Note that this is the opposite of the sermon Jesus gave, here Paul describes righteousness not by faith but by laws.) Jesus called us to exceed the law through exceptional living righteous living.

C. Sin, Faith and Righteousness -Using the bibles definition

1) What is the answer to last weeks home work: if sin is missing the mark, what is the mark?

a) Consider Rom 14:23, whatever is not from faith is sin read replacing not from faith with pride, lust, greedso on. b) Example: Would it shock you if you are told that your sin does not affect God! READ Job 35:6-8, this only makes sense when you understand righteousness. i) God feels pain over our sins, BUT it doesnt affect his righteousness, his justice, or love. Jesus remained righteous even at the end. Unlike most of us when we are sinned against our righteousness often fails and we sin in response. ii) However, Paul teaches in Romans that this cycle of sinning against one another can be broken by faith, we too can be holy like God, Rom 1:7, and maintains our righteousness in our relationships through faith.

Bottom line:
While we live our lives, our choices and corresponding actions will either hit or miss the mark. Living a righteous life is not doing works and following laws, to earn salvation, since thats already assured. Jesus was our living example of a man doing Gods will in all his relationships by acting out of faith. Living righteously by faith in all your relationships is Gods plan for us too.

D. Closing question: If Jesus life demonstrated righteous living through faith, and a holy life acceptable to God, a path he calls us to follow, then why did Jesus have to die, and be raised again? Who required the death of Jesus to free man from death?
Look to the title of the next class for clue

E. Next class: Not Oct 23 (BYND) but Oct. 30 - Atonement, Ransom, Redemption by Fred F.