The law of Righteousness

[Adullam]

Ez. 18:5 "Suppose there is a righteous man
who does what is just and right.

6 He does not eat at the mountain shrines
or look to the idols of the house of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor's wife
or lie with a woman during her period.

7 He does not oppress anyone,
but returns what he took in pledge for a loan.
He does not commit robbery
but gives his food to the hungry
and provides clothing for the naked.

8 He does not lend at usury
or take excessive interest. [a]
He withholds his hand from doing wrong
and judges fairly between man and man.

9 He follows my decrees
and faithfully keeps my laws.
That man is righteous;
he will surely live,
declares the Sovereign LORD.

 

[Adullam]

The plain meaning of the previous text is usually distorted to mean the righteous are promised physical life in the here and now rather than the future salvation. This idea is sown by they who don't believe that turning from wickedness is necessary in order to inherit eternal life.

But the righteous and the wicked both have the present life. The Hebrew for the life promised is in the future tense. God will judge all men according to their works and ways. Before we lay down the next level of righteousness in Christ, we do well to understand God's ways.

30 "Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!

Turning away from our wickedness is repentance. Repentance is a requirement for forgiveness and a new walk in righteousness.

 

[Adullam]

24 "But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked man does, will he live? None of the righteous things he has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness he is guilty of and because of the sins he has committed, he will die.

25 "Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear, O house of Israel: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust? 26 If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin, he will die for it; because of the sin he has committed he will die. 27 But if a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life. 28 Because he considers all the offenses he has committed and turns away from them, he will surely live; he will not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Are my ways unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

We are saved through faith AND faithfulness. Living unfaithfully cancels out any previous faith we have walked in before.

 

[Adullam]

21 "But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. 22 None of the offenses he has committed will be remembered against him. Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live. 23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

Repentance works both ways. This is the balance in truth. We prefer the above verses since we identify with them. We know and agree with the mercy of God. But we have difficulty with the justice of God.

It stands to reason that if a wicked man can be saved from turning away from wickedness...then a righteous man can be lost through his turning from righteousness to wickedness. How can you have one without the other unless we remove justice?

“For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off†(Romans 11:21, 22).

 

[glorydaz]

21 "But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. 22 None of the offenses he has committed will be remembered against him. Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live. 23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

Repentance works both ways. This is the balance in truth. We prefer the above verses since we identify with them. We know and agree with the mercy of God. But we have difficulty with the justice of God.

It stands to reason that if a wicked man can be saved from turning away from wickedness...then a righteous man can be lost through his turning from righteousness to wickedness. How can you have one without the other unless we remove justice?

“For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off†(Romans 11:21, 22).

Righteousness was gained the same way in the OT as it is today...by believing God. God's provision for us has always been through Jesus Christ, and His righteousness imputed to us by grace through faith. The justice of God was satisfied when Christ bore our sins in His body on the cross. When man believes that...righteousness is accounted to him.

And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

God decreed, from the beginning, that the way to righteousness and salvation was to be by Christ's substitutionary atonement which was certain to take place, and did when He came and dwelt among us.

The OT believers knew His as Elohim, Jehovah-Elohim, or Jehovah plus another attribute (God our Righteousness, for example). By one man (Adam), sin entered. None of man's righteousness can take away his sin. It's only the righteousness of Christ that can do that.

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 11 is talking about Israel and the Gentiles...nations, not individual believers. Don't you believe that God is able to keep those that have been given to the Son? Why do you doubt God?

 

[Adullam]

Men no longer believe God. They rage against the truth and are confident. They read the warnings and don't take them to heart. They claim life for themselves and destroy righteousness in the earth. Lots of delusional belief...but little or no faith. Blind eyes and deaf ears. Same as it ever was.

When the Son of Man returns will He find faith on the earth?

"I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:8

 

[Adullam]

GD wrote "The justice of God was satisfied when Christ bore our sins in His body on the cross. When man believes that...righteousness is accounted to him. "

LOL 80% of Americans believe as you do. The mafia believe this. There is no power in what you are saying. You are taking the power out of the true faith in silly statements that change nothing but give sentimental comfort to a rebellious people.

Jesus died for the sins of the world. It is GOD who justifies. Don't seek to justify yourself through your own belief. The Pharisees justified themselves through their faith in Moses...yet Moses would condemn them for their ways. So it is with Christ and His modern suitors. There is no shame before their eyes.

 

[JudaicChristian]

Well said Adullam. :yes

 

[happyjoy]

GD wrote "The justice of God was satisfied when Christ bore our sins in His body on the cross. When man believes that...righteousness is accounted to him. "

LOL 80% of Americans believe as you do. The mafia believe this. There is no power in what you are saying. You are taking the power out of the true faith in silly statements that change nothing but give sentimental comfort to a rebellious people.

Jesus died for the sins of the world. It is GOD who justifies. Don't justify yourself through your own belief. The Pharisees justified themselves through their faith in Moses...yet Moses would condemn them for their ways. So it is with Christ and His modern suitors. There is no shame before their eyes.

What is there to be ashamed of?

 

[archangel_300]

GD wrote "The justice of God was satisfied when Christ bore our sins in His body on the cross. When man believes that...righteousness is accounted to him. "

LOL 80% of Americans believe as you do. The mafia believe this. There is no power in what you are saying. You are taking the power out of the true faith in silly statements that change nothing but give sentimental comfort to a rebellious people.

Jesus died for the sins of the world. It is GOD who justifies. Don't justify yourself through your own belief. The Pharisees justified themselves through their faith in Moses...yet Moses would condemn them for their ways. So it is with Christ and His modern suitors. There is no shame before their eyes.

Actually glorydaz is correct.

You are correct in stating that it is God who justifies but apart from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ God cannot justify anyone. If all we needed was to repent and live faithfully then there is no need to send Jesus and have him crucified. There would be no need to believe on him.

The power of justification rests on the crucifixion of Christ alone. If Jesus Christ carried the burden for our sins it means we *will* come to saving faith in Jesus Christ and we *will* come to repentance and do the works of God.

In this universe that God created no sin can ever go unpunished. This is the very nature of God's justice. Eternal death is the only satisfactory payment that can be made for sin. Living a life of good deeds or repentance in itself (apart from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ) in no way can make a person justified in the sight of God. It can never pay the costly price that sin demands.

 

[Adullam]

GD wrote "The justice of God was satisfied when Christ bore our sins in His body on the cross. When man believes that...righteousness is accounted to him. "

LOL 80% of Americans believe as you do. The mafia believe this. There is no power in what you are saying. You are taking the power out of the true faith in silly statements that change nothing but give sentimental comfort to a rebellious people.

Jesus died for the sins of the world. It is GOD who justifies. Don't justify yourself through your own belief. The Pharisees justified themselves through their faith in Moses...yet Moses would condemn them for their ways. So it is with Christ and His modern suitors. There is no shame before their eyes.

What is there to be ashamed of?

Jer. 6:15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time [that] I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

 

[Adullam]

GD wrote "The justice of God was satisfied when Christ bore our sins in His body on the cross. When man believes that...righteousness is accounted to him. "

LOL 80% of Americans believe as you do. The mafia believe this. There is no power in what you are saying. You are taking the power out of the true faith in silly statements that change nothing but give sentimental comfort to a rebellious people.

Jesus died for the sins of the world. It is GOD who justifies. Don't justify yourself through your own belief. The Pharisees justified themselves through their faith in Moses...yet Moses would condemn them for their ways. So it is with Christ and His modern suitors. There is no shame before their eyes.

Actually glorydaz is correct.

You are correct in stating that it is God who justifies but apart from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ God cannot justify anyone. If all we needed was to repent and live faithfully then there is no need to send Jesus and have him crucified. There would be no need to believe on him.

The power of justification rests on the crucifixion of Christ alone. If Jesus Christ carried the burden for our sins it means we *will* come to saving faith in Jesus Christ and we *will* come to repentance and do the works of God.

In this universe that God created no sin can ever go unpunished. This is the very nature of God's justice. Eternal death is the only satisfactory payment that can be made for sin. Living a life of good deeds or repentance in itself (apart from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ) in no way can make a person justified in the sight of God. It can never pay the costly price that sin demands.

You are saying that God cannot justify anyone without Jesus' sacrifice. Since when did God lose the right to justify? Since when did mere mortals decide who is justified and who is not? You are mistaken in thinking that Jesus is protecting us from a big bad god. This is the modern position...that God is powerless over us because we are hiding behind Jesus. We can be rebellious and sinful, yet we can rule with Christ (let alone be justified). Just say the magic words. Jesus I accept you! We have become little tyrant gods in our own right to justify ourselves through our own belief. The Father is now powerless over us. So the story goes.

God is sovereign. He can have mercy on whom He wills. It is only God who justifies. He must accept us...not we Him. So the opposite of your assertions are true.

Jesus died for all men...but it is God who decides who lives and dies...not men.

You are wrong about God...He is love!

 

[happyjoy]

GD wrote "The justice of God was satisfied when Christ bore our sins in His body on the cross. When man believes that...righteousness is accounted to him. "

LOL 80% of Americans believe as you do. The mafia believe this. There is no power in what you are saying. You are taking the power out of the true faith in silly statements that change nothing but give sentimental comfort to a rebellious people.

Jesus died for the sins of the world. It is GOD who justifies. Don't justify yourself through your own belief. The Pharisees justified themselves through their faith in Moses...yet Moses would condemn them for their ways. So it is with Christ and His modern suitors. There is no shame before their eyes.

What is there to be ashamed of?

Jer. 6:15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time [that] I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

So I should be ashamed for not being ashamed?

 

[archangel_300]

You are saying that God cannot justify anyone without Jesus' sacrifice. Since when did God lose the right to justify? Since when did mere mortals decide who is justified and who is not? You are mistaken in thinking that Jesus is protecting us from a big bad god. This is the modern position...that God is powerless over us because we are hiding behind Jesus. We can be rebellious and sinful, yet we can rule with Christ (let alone be justified). Just say the magic words. Jesus I accept you! We have become little tyrant gods in our own right to justify ourselves through our own belief. The Father is now powerless over us. So the story goes.

God is sovereign. He can have mercy on whom He wills. It is only God who justifies. He must accept us...not we Him. So the opposite of your assertions are true.

Jesus died for all men...but it is God who decides who lives and dies...not men.

You are wrong about God...He is love!

God never lost the right to justify. His plan was set and established on whom he choose to save from before the foundation of the world. You are exactly right, it is God who decides who gets saved and who doesn't. You are exactly right, it is God who must accept us as we in our own carnal mind will not accept him. And you are right again that no magic words or formualas will save us or justify us. :yes

One thing that I do disagree with you on is your statement that Jesus died for all men.
I'm certain Christ never paid for the sins of every mankind that ever lived. If that were the case every man would stand justified and spotless in his sight when judgment day comes. Christ only paid for a subset of the overall sins of mankind. It is these people whom God has chosen and will draw to Himself and it is these people who *will* come to saving faith. None of God's elect will be lost and each one will be sealed with the Holy Spirit before the end will come. The gospel call goes out to *everyone* but only those whose sins have already been paid for by Christ will desire Christ and salvation.

 

[Adullam]

You are saying that God cannot justify anyone without Jesus' sacrifice. Since when did God lose the right to justify? Since when did mere mortals decide who is justified and who is not? You are mistaken in thinking that Jesus is protecting us from a big bad god. This is the modern position...that God is powerless over us because we are hiding behind Jesus. We can be rebellious and sinful, yet we can rule with Christ (let alone be justified). Just say the magic words. Jesus I accept you! We have become little tyrant gods in our own right to justify ourselves through our own belief. The Father is now powerless over us. So the story goes.

God is sovereign. He can have mercy on whom He wills. It is only God who justifies. He must accept us...not we Him. So the opposite of your assertions are true.

Jesus died for all men...but it is God who decides who lives and dies...not men.

You are wrong about God...He is love!

God never lost the right to justify. His plan was set and established on whom he choose to save from before the foundation of the world. You are exactly right, it is God who decides who gets saved and who doesn't. You are exactly right, it is God who must accept us as we in our own carnal mind will not accept him. And you are right again that no magic words or formualas will save us or justify us. :yes

One thing that I do disagree with you on is your statement that Jesus died for all men.
I'm certain Christ never paid for the sins of every mankind that ever lived. If that were the case every man would stand justified and spotless in his sight when judgment day comes. Christ only paid for a subset of the overall sins of mankind. It is these people whom God has chosen and will draw to Himself and it is these people who *will* come to saving faith. None of God's elect will be lost and each one will be sealed with the Holy Spirit before the end will come. The gospel call goes out to *everyone* but only those whose sins have already been paid for by Christ will desire Christ and salvation.

The statement "for all men" means that everyone is a potential recipient...there are no target groups that can claim exclusivity. What it really means is that Gentiles as well as Jews have access to the mercy and grace of God.

 

[Adullam]

Jer. 6:15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time [that] I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.[/quote]



So I should be ashamed for not being ashamed?[/quote]

One cannot manufacture shame. It is a facet of righteousness to feel shame at one's inabiblity to stop sinning. If we hated sin as we ought, we would feel shame in continuing in it. If we accept sin and even defend sin, then we are lawless.

Jesus Christ came to rescue the righteous-hearted by giving them the power to overcome sin through His resurrection life. This new life cannot be disconnected from the righteous heart in a man. The will of God is not accomplished through unbelief, cynicism and compromise.

We forsake what we hate. If sin were like dung to us, we would seek to forsake it. Paul goes even further....he forsakes all (even the good stuff) in order to be further empowered by Christ. He wants in on the available grace. So he is an example of one who is righteous seeking for holiness.

 

[Dave...]

GD wrote "The justice of God was satisfied when Christ bore our sins in His body on the cross. When man believes that...righteousness is accounted to him. "

LOL 80% of Americans believe as you do. The mafia believe this. There is no power in what you are saying. You are taking the power out of the true faith in silly statements that change nothing but give sentimental comfort to a rebellious people.

Jesus died for the sins of the world. It is GOD who justifies. Don't justify yourself through your own belief. The Pharisees justified themselves through their faith in Moses...yet Moses would condemn them for their ways. So it is with Christ and His modern suitors. There is no shame before their eyes.

Actually glorydaz is correct.

You are correct in stating that it is God who justifies but apart from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ God cannot justify anyone. If all we needed was to repent and live faithfully then there is no need to send Jesus and have him crucified. There would be no need to believe on him.

The power of justification rests on the crucifixion of Christ alone. If Jesus Christ carried the burden for our sins it means we *will* come to saving faith in Jesus Christ and we *will* come to repentance and do the works of God.

In this universe that God created no sin can ever go unpunished. This is the very nature of God's justice. Eternal death is the only satisfactory payment that can be made for sin. Living a life of good deeds or repentance in itself (apart from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ) in no way can make a person justified in the sight of God. It can never pay the costly price that sin demands.

You are saying that God cannot justify anyone without Jesus' sacrifice. Since when did God lose the right to justify? Since when did mere mortals decide who is justified and who is not? You are mistaken in thinking that Jesus is protecting us from a big bad god. This is the modern position...that God is powerless over us because we are hiding behind Jesus. We can be rebellious and sinful, yet we can rule with Christ (let alone be justified). Just say the magic words. Jesus I accept you! We have become little tyrant gods in our own right to justify ourselves through our own belief. The Father is now powerless over us. So the story goes.

God is sovereign. He can have mercy on whom He wills. It is only God who justifies. He must accept us...not we Him. So the opposite of your assertions are true.

Jesus died for all men...but it is God who decides who lives and dies...not men.

You are wrong about God...He is love!

I didn't see anyone trying to make the so called "modern position" argument in this thread. Just a thought.


Dave

 

[Adullam]

The modern position is the powerless gospel that saves people who continue in unrighteousness and lawlessness. It really is a slam on righteousness. This position states that God is not looking for obedience at all. He says to us...relax, do whatever you like....I'll save you. In fact the more you "try" to do what is right, the less I will save you. So the modern gospel rewards the unrighteous and condemns the righteous-hearted. It is a powerless message that denies any possible victory over sin. It invents a secret Jesus covering that somehow blinds God to the reality of our true state. I don't seek to judge anyone for having believed the lie. I am merely trying to show the right way. I myself was infected with the false gospel virus for a long time. Hence my wish to help others who are similarly ensnared.

 

[francisdesales]

The modern position is the powerless gospel that saves people who continue in unrighteousness and lawlessness. It really is a slam on righteousness. This position states that God is not looking for obedience at all. He says to us...relax, do whatever you like....I'll save you. In fact the more you "try" to do what is right, the less I will save you. So the modern gospel rewards the unrighteous and condemns the righteous-hearted. It is a powerless message that denies any possible victory over sin. It invents a secret Jesus covering that somehow blinds God to the reality of our true state. I don't seek to judge anyone for having believed the lie. I am merely trying to show the right way. I myself was infected with the false gospel virus for a long time. Hence my wish to help others who are similarly ensnared.

Kudos. Wonder if any of them will listen to you... As you noted, religious pride turns us from being open to God's Word, esp. when His Word disagrees with our prized "theological schemes" that attempt to guarantee something that God does not guarantee. Salvation is conditional.

Regards

 

[glorydaz]

GD wrote "The justice of God was satisfied when Christ bore our sins in His body on the cross. When man believes that...righteousness is accounted to him. "

LOL 80% of Americans believe as you do. The mafia believe this. There is no power in what you are saying. You are taking the power out of the true faith in silly statements that change nothing but give sentimental comfort to a rebellious people.

Jesus died for the sins of the world. It is GOD who justifies. Don't seek to justify yourself through your own belief. The Pharisees justified themselves through their faith in Moses...yet Moses would condemn them for their ways. So it is with Christ and His modern suitors. There is no shame before their eyes.

You're wrong. What you're describing is dead faith...that which the devils have. I'm surprised you don't know the difference. It certainly is God who justifies, and He does that through the faith of Jesus Christ. It is His faith you are denouncing as inadequate to save and to keep those who look to Him for their salvation. I'm hardly the one who seeks to justify myself...that would be those of you who think you can somehow be obedient enough or righteous enough to do the work Jesus came to do...which was reconcile man with God. It's the work of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us...to conform us into the image of Christ. You doubt the power of God, and mourn the unrighteousness of those who claim to be sons. That's your personal problem...not the problem of those who know God's power in their lives.

Where is your faith in the power of God? I don't see it. You have more faith in the power of man to frustrate the will of God. God is more than able to accomplish every work He starts. I see Him working in the lives of believers every day. Just because you can't see it does not mean it isn't there. It sounds like you've been out of fellowship for quite some time....the Word warns us to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Seek out the brethern and you will see God is not the incompetent you seem to think Him.