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The Righteousness of God... Imputed by God... to God's people (link) A tablet from the on-going INTERNET BOOK, "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets" ( http://www.terrific-tabs.com ) by John N. Todd III, M. D. (link)
6/00; 3/01; 5/01; 7/01; 9/01; 1/02; 2/02; 3/02; 6/02; 8/02; 9/02; 11/02; 12/02; 3/03; 5/03; 11/03; 3/04; 7/04; 9/04; 11/04; 6/05; 7/06; 12/25/06 CLICK HERE to go to the "FRONT PAGE" of "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets" CLICK HERE for ALPHABETICAL INDEX of this entire WEBSITE CLICK HERE to EMAIL your thoughts to the author Luke 16: 15 (NEB) Jesus speaking: "You are the people who impress your fellow-men with YOUR righteousness.... but God sees through you.... for what sets itself up to be admired by men, is detestable in the sight of God." Romans 10: 3 (Jerusalem Bible) Failing to recognize the righteousness that comes from God, they try to promote their own idea of it.... instead of submitting to the righteousness of God. Psalm 18: 19 He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me. 24 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands -- in His sight. Matthew 6: 1 (NIV) (Jesus speaking) Be careful not to do your "acts of righteousness" before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in Heaven. Matthew 6: 33 But seek ye first the Kingdom of God (link), and His righteousness.... and all these things shall be added unto you. Galatians 2: 21 (NEB) I will not nullify the grace of God; if righteousness comes through the Law.... then Christ died for nothing. And, note other scriptural references, below. "Righteousness" is the state of being considered "righteous" ("just", "blameless", "without guilt") -- by God -- in the eyes of God Himself. "Righteousness" is FROM GOD -- and is imputed to individuals of God's own choosing -- for God's own reasons. "Righteousness", like "justification" (being "reckoned righteous", or declared "just" in the sight of God), is not something determined by a church, or a minister, or a priest, or a board of deacons -- and "righteousness", in God's eyes, is not something that a person is capable of generating within himself, by some action, or by a promise, or by a "commitment", or by reciting a creed, or by joining a church, or by being baptized. Even though a person may be "doing right" in the opinion of his "church" -- and may be "good" in the eyes of his fellow-men, and may be applauded by the pope -- and may be "religious" in his own opinion of himself.... it is God, and God alone, who is able to bestow, or grant as a "gift", the state of "righteousness" to an individual. Perhaps you have thought that the determination of your "righteousness" is a decision left up to you, or to your church, or to your minister, or to a group of your "peers". Maybe you have figured that if you performed a certain number of "good deeds", you would thereby generate "righteousness" in yourself. Or, perhaps, you decided that if you were "nice" at the church; or that if you taught a Sunday-school class; or that if you made friends with the preacher -- you would thus become "righteous". Did you believe that if many members of your church considered you to be generous, or friendly, or important, that you would thus be declared "righteous" -- in the eyes of God? Some of us have been led to believe, in some churches, that if we produce enough "works"; or closely follow the church "rules"; or perform enough "good deeds"..... that those "synthetic" actions will then negate or outweigh a certain number of "misdeeds" (or "sins") that we may have committed -- as if there were an arbitrary man-made "scale" of good works that God must use in deciding who is, or who is not, "righteous". But no.... God does not await our humanistic perceptions concerning "righteousness" -- and God does not depend upon any human's opinion about the "righteousness" of other humans.... before God makes up His own mind. Note the following scriptural quotations. Read these out loud, so that you can "hear" and "see" what God is saying. (Some of these are repeated from above): Romans 10: 3 (Jerusalem Bible) Failing to recognize the righteousness that comes from God, they try to promote their own idea of it.... instead of submitting to the righteousness of God. 4 But now, the Law has come to an end, with Christ.... and everyone who has faith may be justified. Luke 16: 15 (NEB) Jesus speaking: "You are the people who impress your fellow-men with YOUR righteousness.... but God sees through you.... for what sets itself up to be admired by men, is detestable in the sight of God." Luke 18: 9 (NRSV) He (Jesus) also told this parable (the parable of the Pharisee and the tax-collector) to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and regarded others with contempt....13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted." Galatians 2: 16 (NRSV) Yet we know that a person is justified (footnote says "reckoned as righteous") not by the works of the Law.... but through the faith OF Jesus Christ. (See link: The Faith OF Jesus.) Romans 3: 20 For no human being will be declared righteous in His sight, by deeds prescribed by the Law; for through the Law comes only the knowledge of sin. 21 But now, apart from Law, a righteousness from God has been disclosed...... Psalm 1: 5 (KJV) Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (See link: The ungodly.) Galatians 2: 21 (NEB) I will not nullify the grace of God; if righteousness comes through the Law.... then Christ died for nothing. Same (NIV) I do not
set aside the grace of God, for if
righteousness could be gained through the Law,
Christ died for nothing! |