CENTRAL THOUGHT
As believers in Christ righteousness should characterize our way of life.
HYMN: MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING ELSE
TEXT: Matt. 5:20-48
INTRODUCTION:
Righteousness refers to one having a right standing with God based on one’s acceptance by faith for the finished work of Christ on the cross of calvary. This is reflected in our living right and doing what is right in the sight of God. It calls for having a deep commitment to doing what is pleasing to God and also which will lift up the name of the Lord where ever we find ourselves.
Righteousness has been imputed on all who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal savior. God is righteous (Ps. 7:9) and also a righteous judge (Ps. 9:4 NIV). God expects us as His own dear children therefore to be righteous.
We must understand that our righteousness cannot meet God’s demands because all our righteousness are as filthy rags before Him (Isa.64:6). God has made Jesus Christ our righteousness (1 Cor.1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21). He expects us therefore to live righteously before Him all our lives here on earth. “For the grace of God which bringeth salvation had appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world (Titus 2:11-12).
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are:
- To understand what righteousness means.
- To explain ways through which righteousness could come.
- To understand that our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and pharisees.
- To highlight God’s expectations concerning those He has imputed righteousness.
BIBLE TRUTH:
Q1. WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY RIGHTEOUSNESS?
Job 1:1
Righteousness is having a right standing with God through one’s acceptance of the finished work of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ on the cross of calvary. This points to the fact that we cannot earn this by our good deeds; it is the gift of God. We receive it when we accept Christ into our lives. This righteousness must reflect in all areas of life and in every place we find ourselves. It is one thing that distinguishes believers from unbelievers. Righteousness should manifest in the way we comport ourselves, how we talk, the type of friends we keep, how we dress, the places we go, the types of programs that we watch etc. God expects us to separate ourselves from all defilements. 2 Cor.6:14 says “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communication hath light with darkness?” Righteousness connotes therefore, being perfect and upright, fearing God and eschewing evil (Job 1:1).
Q2. WHAT ARE THE WAYS THROUGH WHICH RIGHTEOUSNESS COULD COME?
Before Jesus Christ came in the form of flesh into the world, there was righteousness based on the law, the law was our school master to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by their faith (Gal 3:24). For by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified (Gal.2:16). God knows the inadequacy of the righteousness based on the law and therefore sent Jesus Christ to become our righteousness. We shall briefly discuss below the righteousness of the law and the righteousness of God through faith in Christ.
A. Righteousness of the law (Rom. 3:19-23; 8:1-4; 10:2-5)
Righteousness according to law is dependent on meeting the demands of the law.
The word of God tells us categorically that by the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. We also know that our self-righteousness is as filthy rags before God. Righteousness under the law operates under the old covenant. The law could not meet God’s requirement for righteousness because it was weak through the flesh, God had to send His son to meet this requirement of the law was adequate and met God’s standard, then it would have sufficed. “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second” (Heb 8:7). The righteousness of the law left man ignorant of God’s righteousness and so man could not have submitted himself to God’s righteousness but for the coming of Christ. It was necessary that the righteousness of the law which was a shadow should give way to the righteousness of God which is the real thing. This was fulfilled in Christ.
B. Righteousness of God through faith in Christ (Rom. 3:21-26; 4:11; 8:3-4)
God knew that the righteousness of the law could not qualify man for a right standing before Him, so he decided to send His only begotten son Jesus Christ who did not commit any sin to become sin for us so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. It is only by trusting in the Lord Jesus and accepting Him in our lives that this righteousness of God can be ours through faith. “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who work not after flesh but after the spirit” (Rom.8:3-4). We must therefore continually live our lives daily, always bearing in mind that it cost God His only begotten Son to make us stand righteous before Him.
Q3. HOW CAN OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS EXCEED THAT OF SCRIBES AND PHARISEES?
God sent Jesus into the world to bring us the righteousness of God through our faith in Christ. The righteousness of the Scribes and the Pharisees did not meet God’s standards and could not qualify them to enter into the kingdom of Heaven (Matt.5:20) Righteousness imputed on believers by Christ exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees. We shall briefly examine the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees and also how our righteousness can exceed theirs. These points are discussed below:
A. Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees (Matt 23:13-28; Luke 11:39-46)
The Scribes and Pharisees believed in outward show. The righteousness they exhibited was not genuine. Jesus referred to them as hypocrites, they draw nigh to God with their mouths and honor Him with their lips but their hearts are far from God. In vain they worship God, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men (Matt. 15:7-9). “Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter but within they are full of extortion and excess” (Matt.23:25). “Even so ye also appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (Matt. 23:28). The Scribes and Pharisees were more of men pleasers. They put up a form of godliness but denying the power thereof (2 Tim.3:5). Though they were very religious; they did not accept the person of our Lord and savior Jesus who has been made our righteousness.
B. How can our righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees? (Rom.8:1-4; 6:6, 14; Gal. 5:16-26) “There being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith into the grace wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God” (Rom.5:1-2). We have earlier been told that no one can be justified by the deeds of law. It is only in Christ and by accepting His righteousness that our righteousness can exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees. By accepting Jesus into our lives and living for Him sin shall not have dominion over us. This is demonstrated by our outward lifestyle which is a manifestation of the presence of Christ in our lives. “Therefore, being then made free from sin we became servants of righteousness” (Rom. 6:18). “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit “(Rom.8:1). Looking up daily to Jesus and yielding our lives to Him continually will enable us have our righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees. It is only when we are led forth by the spirit of God, walk daily in the spirit that we shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. As we walk and live in the spirit, our lives will manifest the fruit of the Spirit. Our depending on Christ as our righteousness makes it possible for us to draw from Him the grace to daily live and walk in the spirit.
Q4. WHAT ARE GOD’S EXPECTATIONS CONCERNING THOSE HE HAS IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS?
God moved by love, sent Jesus Christ His only begotten Son to die on the cross so that we who were no people might be called the children of the most high God. He made Christ who knew no sin to become sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile” (Ps. 32:1-2). God did all these for us. We should also reciprocate this kind gesture by the way we pattern our lives toward pleasing Him and confirming to His divine nature. It is usually said to whom much is given, much is expected. God has great expectations from us whom He has imputed righteousness. He expects us to be different from the unbelievers. This difference should reflect in every area of our lives. Although this list is not exhaustive, we shall highlight some of these expectations.
A. Having died to sin must live in righteousness (1 Pet. 2:24; 2Cor. 5:14-15; Rom.6:1-6)
We must continually reckon ourselves to be dead to sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom. 6:11). We must always yield ourselves to God as those that are alive from the dead, and our members as instruments of righteousness unto God. The love demonstrated for us by God should motivate us to live righteously and soberly before Him.
B. Daily presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice. (Rom.12:1-2) God is urging us to present our bodies as living sacrifice on a daily basis, holy and acceptable unto God. This should constitute our act of worship. We must not conform any longer to the pattern of this world; rather we should be transformed by renewing our minds through the word of God. It is by so doing on a continuous basis we will meet God’s expectation.
C. Bringing forth fruits of righteousness (Rom.6:22; Matt.3:8-10; Phil. 1:11; Heb. 12:11; Titus 3:5-8; Heb. 11:33)
Now that we have been made free from sin and have become the servants of God, our fruits should be unto holiness and the end everlasting life. We should be filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Christ unto the glory and praise of God. We should be careful to maintain good works. In all these, we must ensure that we do not only bring forth fruits but that our fruits should abide.
D. Seeking heavenly things (Col.3:1-3)
As we have been raised with Christ, we are to seek those things that are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Our affections should be on things that are above and not on things on the earth. We must realize that we have died to the world and its systems (sin), our lives are hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life shall appear with Him in glory. It follows therefore that we should not love the world nor the things that are in the world. If one loves the world, then the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15).
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
Jesus Christ has been made our righteousness. This was not based on our good deeds. It was motivated by the love of God. All our righteousness at best can be likened to filthy rags. God has imputed His righteousness on us when we accepted the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary. This should reflect in all areas of our lives and any where we find ourselves. We must not be conformed to the things of this world, but be transformed by renewing our minds through the word of God. It is by living right and relying on God’s righteousness that we will be able to bring forth fruits of righteousness.
MEMORY VERSE
Matthew 5:20
“For I say unto you, except your righteousness shall exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven”.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Monday: Righteousness of the law.
Rom.3:19-23; 8:1-4; 10:2-5
Tuesday: Righteousness through faith in Christ.
Rom.3:21-26; 4:11; 8:3-4
Wednesday: Righteousness of Scribes and Pharisees.
Matt. 23:13-28; Luke 11:39-46
Thursday: Our righteousness must exceed that of Scribes and Pharisees.
Rom. 8:1-4; 6:6, 14; Gal. 5:16-26
Friday: God’s expectations of Christ disciples (believers).
1 Pet.2:24; 2 Cor. 5:14-15; Rom. 6:1-6
Saturday: God’s expectations of believers in Christ.
Rom. 6:22; 12:1-2; Phil. 1:11; Col. 3:1-3; Heb. 12:11