Living Righteously: The Path to God's Kingdom
Righteousness is a requirement for those who follow Christ to enter the Kingdom of God. While this concept may seem unfamiliar to some, the scriptures undoubtedly support this assertion.
However, it's crucial to recognize that Christians are not saved by their works, for, as Romans 3:23 reminds us, 'all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.' This stark truth is echoed in Ezekiel 18:20, where it warns, 'the one who sins will die.' Ephesians 2:8-9 underscores this reality by proclaiming that salvation is not a matter of personal achievement through works. Instead, it is a gift from God, graciously offered through His son, Jesus.
While we emphasize that salvation is not by our works, we must equally emphasize the unchanging necessity of keeping God's commandments. This isn't about trying to save ourselves but about living out our faith and obedience to God. Our inability to save ourselves is evident, 'for all have sinned and fallen short.' Nevertheless, God expects us to actively 'practice' righteous behaviors, demonstrating loyalty and unwavering obedience to Him.
Many argue that following God entails embracing 'virtuous' behavior guided by the Spirit. While this perspective has merit, it can lead to subjective variations in following God, potentially leaving room for misinterpretation or influence from other spirits. The Scriptures caution us to 'test the spirits' to discern their origin, as exemplified in 1 John 4:1.
Furthermore, the book of Jeremiah reminds us of the heart's deceitful and desperately wicked nature (Jeremiah 17:9). It underscores the potential pitfalls of relying solely on our emotions for guidance. Therefore, God has graciously provided us with His unambiguous, objective moral standards and a prescribed way of life, ensuring we do not have to rely solely on our emotions for direction.
Art of man being influenced by a deceiving spirit.
Defining the Law & Sin
It is crucial that we define sin in order to gain a complete understanding of what constitutes right behavior, or righteousness, from God's perspective.
1 John 3:4
4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, sin is lawlessness.
Psalms 119:142
142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth.
Psalms 119:7
7 I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous rules.
1 John 3:4 provides the most direct explanation of what sin truly is: it is the act of transgressing the laws and commandments of God. Furthermore, Psalms 119 describes God’s law as being righteous and true. Therefore, it is God’s commandments that God considers right behavior, and transgressing those commandments is what constitutes sin.
Righteousness = Keeping Commandments
Deuteronomy 6:25
25 Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us.
The Book of Deuteronomy provides an explicit definition of righteousness. Within scripture, God has entrusted us with His laws and commandments, serving as a comprehensive manual on how to worship Him, foster harmonious relationships with our neighbors, and show reverence to God through observance of His Sabbaths and Feast days. These very behaviors serve as the foundation of God's commandments and the embodiment of righteousness.
1 John 2:28-29
28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
The passage in 1 John 2:29 underscores God’s expectation of continuously 'practicing' righteousness throughout our lives, ensuring that we stand unashamed when Christ returns for His people. While we may falter at times, it reminds us of the ongoing need to refine ourselves and grow in right behavior.
Romans 8:7-9
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
In the book of Romans, the author contrasts two opposing ways of life: those who follow the desires of the flesh and those who walk in the path of the Spirit. The fleshly nature, or carnal mindset, cannot please God because it contradicts His commandments. To walk in the Spirit is to align with God's law, signifying one's belonging to Christ, echoing the message in 1 John 2:29
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 5:6
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
Matthew 13:41-43
41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,
42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Matthew 19:16
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"
17 So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
18 He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,'
19 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "
20 The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?"
21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Rom 2:13
13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
Pursuing the Kingdom of God inherently involves seeking and embodying God's righteous behavior. Jesus consistently directed people toward God's Kingdom and the righteous conduct required for entrance. This message remains at the core of the gospel even after His death. While salvation commences with faith in Jesus as our Savior and High Priest, true discipleship involves modeling our behavior after His, which is characterized by faithful adherence to God's commandments.
1 Peter 2:21
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth
While it's undeniably true that we cannot save ourselves, and salvation is solely through God's grace by placing our faith in Jesus, it's equally important to put this faith into practice by emulating the righteous behavior of our Savior. Without corresponding righteous actions, Mere faith cannot secure entry into the Kingdom.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
Matthew 5:16-20
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
First, In verse 17, the word fulfill in Greek is plēroō, which means to: fill, make full, to fill up, or to render perfect. Therefore, Christ is not saying the law ended with him. The opposite is shown to be true if these passages are read in their full context. This is a breakdown of what Jesus actually said:
Let your light (good works) shine so men may see your good works and you glorify God.
Jesus did not come to abolish the law.
the law will not be altered in any way until heaven and earth pass and all is fulfilled (Greek: ginomai - meaning accomplished or established)
Righteousness (works) must exceed the Pharisees’ if one is to enter into the Kingdom.
Jesus is warning his followers of teaching against the law of God. He asserts that teaching against God’s law will have consequences. And no one will enter the Kingdom of God if their righteousness is not greater than that of the Pharisees, whom Jesus names hypocrites in Mark 7 for placing traditions above the Laws of God.
Righteous People
This compilation of Scriptures highlights individuals in the Bible who were explicitly noted as righteous, along with a verse from Revelation that outlines the qualities of the “saints”, or future righteous individuals:
Luke 1:5-6
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
Job 1:1
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.
Luke 2:25
25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
2 Peter 2:4-5/20-22
4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;
5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;
6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;
7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked
8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)--
9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,
20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.
21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."
James 2:20-26
20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.
24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Revelation 14:12
12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Conclusion
As we conclude our exploration of righteousness and the significance of our actions, we are reminded of the profound message conveyed in Revelation 22:12: "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work." The Bible repeatedly emphasizes the importance of our deeds and the accountability that awaits us in the divine judgment.
Hebrews 9:27 underscores the inescapable truth that all individuals will face judgment after their earthly journey: "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment."
Revelation 20:12 vividly describes this impending judgment, as the dead, small and great, stand before God, with their works meticulously recorded in the books, including the Book of Life.
Revelation 3:1-5 calls out the church of Sardis for lacking works of righteous behavior. Warning of the day of judgment and calling them back to repentance and refinement of their works.
Hebrews 10:26-29 issues a solemn warning about willful sin and the gravity of disregarding the Son of God's sacrifice. It paints a picture of the severe consequences for those who reject the sanctity of God's covenant.
In light of these passages and our earlier discussions, it becomes evident that our faith in Jesus, as the Savior and High Priest, is the foundation of our salvation. However, honoring that faith through our righteous actions is equally essential. This is the key to aligning ourselves with the Kingdom of God and fulfilling the calling we have received.
May we strive to emulate the righteous individuals from the Scriptures and heed the warning to avoid willful sin. As we await the return of our Lord, let us be found diligent, pursuing righteousness with unwavering faith, knowing that our deeds will not go unnoticed in the divine judgment.