Righteousness (Romans 5:6-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Psalm 40:9; Luke 4:18; 9:1-2; Mark 6:2, 12-13; Matthew 13:54; 10:7-8)

AUTHORITY NOT EARNED

It's often a sad characteristic, that second and third generation millionaires—those who inherited their wealth rather than built it—do not value or appreciate the money, wealth, power, and influence, that they have inherited. Historically, these heirs or heiresses often squander or waste the wealth, because they don't truly possess that internal discipline, and their behavior and attitude reflect that lack of basic guidance. However, they still possess the authority over the business or resources left to them. Company employees who highly respected their parents for building the empire, may actually despise those who now control it, but didn't earn it.

ROMANS 5:6-8

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commended His love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

WHO WE ARE

This verse bothered me because it said that "scarcely for a righteous man will one die." Based on previous teaching, this seemed to indicate that a righteous person possessed high moral character and integrity, so why wouldn't someone give sacrificially for such a person? In reality, righteousness has less to do with what someone has 'done', and more to do with 'who they are'.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:21

"For He has made Him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."

SPIRITUAL CONDITION

The verse speaks of a spiritual condition. Jesus knew no sin, yet became sin. We were not righteous, but we became righteous, because of His sacrifice, death and resurrection. Like the heirs to a vast fortune, we didn't deserve it, but that's who we are, having never earned it. We are righteous, and despite the promotion that 'justified' means—"just as if I never sinned"—that terminology remains shallow, and barely scratches the surface of meaning. Righteousness relates to position and the authority that we possess because we are in the position of 'being' righteous.

PROVERBS

Anyone who takes the time to read through Proverbs, and even a good portion of Psalms, will notice a recurring theme: the 'righteous' are the ones who have legal authority in the earth to set things right, while the 'wicked' are those in rebellion to God's laws and way of doing things, who try to usurp God's plan and purpose, to their own destruction.

PSALM 40:9

Prophetically referring to the Christ, the scripture says:

"I have preached righteousness in the great congregation; lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, you know."

PREACHED

The word translated 'preached' is the Hebrew word (bissarti), from (basar), 1319, which means 'good tidings' or 'glad news', or to announce 'good news'—the concept underlying the word "gospel". This verse states that Jesus preached 'righteousness', or that His 'Gospel' message was righteousness. If what He preached was 'righteousness,' what was He announcing?

LUKE 4:18

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord."

MARK 6:2

"...He began to teach in the synagogue; and many, hearing Him, were astonished, saying, 'From where has this man these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands?' "

MATTHEW 13:54

"...He taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, 'From where has this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?' "

MATTHEW 10:7-8

"...preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand'. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons; freely you have received, freely give."

MARK 6:12-13

"And they went out, and preached that men should repent, and cast out demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them."

LUKE 9:1-2

"Then He called His twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases, and He sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick."

PSALM 40:8

"I delight to do Your will, O my God; yes, your law is within my heart"

In Hebrews 10:7 & 9, when quoting this verse, says, "...I come to do your will, O God..."

RIGHTEOUSNESS

Basically, righteousness is our authority, in Christ Jesus, to do His will, and to set things right on earth, even as the scripture says, "for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8), and He had all authority, and then, as being righteous, in Him, now we are commanded to go, in that same authority [righteousness], to do His will (Matt. 28:18-20; Mk.16:15-20).

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours