3 KINDS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Edward O’Hara Fri 1/31/2020 9:58 AM

Have you ever heard someone say that “If men could keep the law perfectly they would not need Jesus”? Because then they would have no sin? Is that statement really true? I mean, does this statement line up with what the Bible says? The answer is a resounding NO!! It does not agree with the Biblical narrative. But, is instead an example of the hypocritical righteousness of the Pharisees. And here’s just a few examples showing what a completely unBiblical conclusion a statement like that is. 

The question, Is the righteousness that is reckoned to us that we are considered to be when we believe in Jesus’ righteousness that is of the law? Does the Bible teach that the righteousness that we receive by faith is the righteousness that Jesus gained from His having lived the perfect life? And is it this kind of righteousness that made Jesus the “unblemished lamb”? Many so-called Bible preachers to believe and teach that it is. 

But, to get a Biblical answer to these questions we will look at what Paul taught about 3 kinds of righteousness. One that is completely invalid. And two others that are both valid as Biblical righteousness. But, only one that leads to eternal life. 

In Rom.7 we see Paul teaching about invalid righteousness. This is the hypocritical righteousness that Jesus spoke of as well when He told the Pharisees that they were “like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.”Mt.23:27. 

In Rom.6:23-7:4 Paul describes their need for deliverance from this invalid hypocritical righteousness so they could be joined with Christ and produce fruit unto God. Here Paul describes this righteousness as idolatry of the law itself. The idolatry that came from their having actually lifted the law and placing it above them. By doing this some Israelites had placed the law between them and God as the means for their relationship with Him. Showing themselves to be good enough for God to accept as if this was what God was looking for. 

But, a relationship with God has always been possible only by faith. This is shown by the fact that the covenant God had made with Israel had two parts. Circumcision was symbolic of the faith of Abraham. And the law with its sacrifices that were given to Israel to teach them how to live in a civil society. With its ceremonies to provide a constant reminder of the behavior, the law demanded(Heb.10:1-3). This served as a preservative for Israel to continue as a people “until the seed should come to whom the promised was made”.Gal.3:19. While at the same time showing them that only by keeping their eyes on God would they receive the promises of Abraham. 

The second kind of righteousness is the righteousness of works. What Paul called a “self-righteousness” in Phil.3:6-9. Righteousness that Paul said he had as a Pharisee that came from him keeping the law in its proper perspective. Righteousness came from Israelites understanding that it was not their means for their relationship with God. But, only the means by which the two things I spoke of in the prior paragraph would be true for them. A reminder of sin to make them behave, and a preservative till their Messiah would come. 

But, like the invalid righteousness that the idolatry of the law created, this righteousness could not bring life either. This is why anyone who says that if they could keep the law perfectly they would not need Jesus is a false statement. Because this is a righteousness of the works of the law. And in Gal.2:16 Paul says plainly that “no flesh shall be justified(righteous) by the works of the law”. 

And in Gal.3:21 Paul plainly says in defending the goodness of the law, while still showing it’s the inability to give life, “Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.” So we see from this verse that no matter how well the Israelite kept the law the righteousness derived from those works could not give life. This is why even though Israelites like Zechariah and Elizabeth and Paul kept the law blamelessly they still needed Jesus. Because eternal life is knowing Jesus(John17:3). Not sinless law-keeping. Because knowing Him is only by the faith Abraham expressed and not of the works of the law(Rom.4:1-5). 

It is also in this verse that we are introduced to the 3rd kind of righteousness Paul speaks of in his epistles. The righteousness that is of faith without works is the only “righteousness that is unto eternal life”(Rom.5:21). We have seen the invalid hypocritical righteousness of the Pharisees that can not give life. And we have seen the valid self-righteousness that comes through the works of the law. That even though it is valid righteousness because it is of works, it too could not give life. Now let’s look at how Paul says we are made to be and considered by God to be righteous unto eternal life. 

In Gal.2:16 Paul says that the righteousness that we need for eternal life only comes “by the faith of Christ”. Now, this does not mean that it is from our belief in Jesus’ faith that we receive righteousness. So that we are believing in the faith of Christ for righteousness. It means just what Paul says when he states in this verse that “even we have believed in Jesus”. 

Paul is pointing out the fact that while living as a man Jesus lived by faith in the Father. We see this stated as well by Jesus in John12:49,50 where Jesus says, “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.” And in John8:28,29 – “Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”

So what Paul is telling us is that just as Jesus’ righteousness was that He lived by faith in the Father, so we too must live by faith in Him for righteousness. Because just as Jesus’ living by faith in the Father was His righteousness, so too is our righteousness derived from a life of faith in Jesus. This is what made Jesus the unblemished lamb of God. Not His perfect law-keeping. Remember that Paul said that “no flesh shall be justified(righteous) by the works of the law” in Gal.2:16? Well, Jesus was flesh just as we are. So His righteousness could not come from perfect law-keeping any more than any man could. 

So when we believe in Jesus as He believed the Father while living as a man on earth, we are “reckoned righteous” just as Jesus was. We are considered by God to be righteous, in the same way, Jesus was. By faith and not by the works of the law. 

In this study, I have shown you the 3 kinds of righteousness Paul spoke of. 1. The invalid hypocritical righteousness of the Pharisees. 2. The valid self-righteousness that comes through the works of the law. That even though it is valid righteousness because it is of works, it could not give life because life only comes by faith. And 3. The righteousness that Paul says is by faith without works that is the only righteous unto eternal life. So we want #3 to be our righteousness. The righteousness that we are when we believe in Jesus just as He believed in the Father. 

Have you believed in Jesus for righteousness just as Paul tells us that Jesus believed in the Father for His righteousness? Have you been born of the Spirit so you can inherit eternal life? If you are reading this God is calling you. He loves you and wants you to know Him. Because knowing Him is eternal life.John17:3. So if you do not know Him please take the time right now to pray and confess Jesus as Lord of your life. And believe that He has raised from the dead. Because by doing this and really meaning it from your heart you will be saved from death to life. From sin to righteousness. And from the wrath to peace with God. Because when you trust in Jesus you leave the old life behind where you were only able to trust in what has been made. And now are equipped to trust in Jesus who alone can equip you for heaven because by His resurrection He is the only WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. 

StevieRay Hansen
Editor, HNewsWire.com

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