More Thoughts on Righteousness

On to Romans 5!  And let me just say really quickly that I have no personal conviction about reading only from a specific translation of the bible.  I simply like the poetic-ness of the King James.

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  Romans 5:18

Romans 17 uses the righteousness word, but since it's part of a larger (five-verse) thought I'll let you read it from your own bible.  And verse 18 basically summarizes that thought anyway, right?

So Paul's saying just as the sin of Adam condemned all mankind to death, the righteousness of Jesus by his free gift brought life to all.  And we should go on to verse 19 here too, which is easy to understand, knowing that Paul is comparing Adam's sin bringing death to all to Jesus sacrifice bringing life to all.

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.  Romans 5:19

But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound, that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:21

Sin reigns unto death.
Grace reigns unto eternal life.  How?  Through righteousness by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.  Romans 6:13

Even though you still live in the earthly body, don't let sin control you.  Don't let any part of your body be used as a tool get you to sin, but let God have control of you.  Remember the new person that you are in Christ and let God use every part of you as tools for what is just, honorable and free from guilt and wrong.

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6: 16

...whether of obedience to sin unto death or of obedience to God unto righteousness.

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. Romans 6: 18-20

Being then made free from sin, (see v 17- by obeying the form of teaching that was delivered to them, which was the Good News of Jesus death and resurrection) you become the servants of what is just, honorable and free from guilt and wrong.

What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offence: and whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed. Romans 9:30-33

For they (Israel) being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. (Whoever lives by them has to live by them all because to break one is the same as breaking them all.) But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) (I can't say I really understand this, but I hope to as we reach this point in our bible study.)  But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10: 3-10

That's pretty much the end of the references in Romans.  There are so, so many more references to righteousness I don't know where to stop and we didn't even look at the other forms of the word.

Two more verses though-

That I may win Christ and be found in him, not having mine own righeousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.  Philippians 3:9

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.  Titus 3:5-6

So it's pretty clear that our righteousness comes from faith in God through Jesus Christ, right?  Every verse we've looked at has either spelled it out or given an example or referred to it in some way.

Tomorrow- a few more questions and (hopefully!) a conclusion.