RIGHTEOUSNESS
There is a debate concerning can a believer be "righteous?" The two camps are strongly split on this, and both have some Scriptural support for their views. To begin to answer this question, it is necessary to both determine the Biblical definition of righteousness, and to study the Scriptures concerning righteousness. Below are the Biblical definition (from the Holman Bible), and some Scriptures that speak of righteousness. There may be other Scriptures, but these are the ones published when doing a "search" for Scriptures about righteousness.
Biblical definition of righteousness:
(from the Holman Bible Dictionary)
https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=Awr...ess.html/RK=2/RS=i_kq2kpdVCRswBeIrvfpXoHdzMw-
(excerpt)
New Testament Greek philosophy understood righteousness to be one of the cardinal virtues, but New Testament authors show that they understood the word in terms of Old Testament thinking about covenantal relations. Human righteousness in the New Testament is absolute faith in and commitment to God (Matthew 3:15 ; Romans 4:5 ; 1 Peter 2:24 ). The one who in faith gives oneself to the doing of God's will is righteous, doing righteousness, and reckoned righteous by God (James 2:23 ). The focus of faith in God is the saving activity of God in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-26 ). The human-to-human dimension of righteousness observed in the Old Testament is present in New Testament thought (Philippians 1:3-11 ), but it seems less prominent, perhaps because of the importance of the New Testament concept of love.
At the heart of New Testament thinking about righteousness is the notion of God's righteousness (Matthew 6:33 ; Acts 17:31 ; Romans 1:17 ; Ephesians 4:24 ; James 1:20 ). Interpreters debate whether the phrase “righteousness of God” is a subjective genitive , meaning “God is righteous,” or an objective genitive , meaning “God gives righteousness.”
This grammatical distinction is more than a point about subtle linguistic nuance. In the New Testament, especially in Paul's letters, “the righteousness of God” is the key to understanding the salvation of humanity.
Interpreters who take “the righteousness of God” to mean “God gives righteousness” see salvation as a God-created human possibility. Righteousness is that which God requires of humanity and which God gives as a gift to the person of faith. In this line of thought, faith is the condition for the reception of the gift of righteousness from God. God acts in Christ, and, in turn, humans react by having faith. Then God gives them righteousness or reckons them, on the basis of their faith, as if they were righteous.
On the other hand, interpreters who understand “the righteousness of God” to mean “God is righteous” contend that salvation is purely the work of God, God's saving activity in keeping the divine side of the covenant of creation. God acts in Christ, and part of that action is the creation of faith on the part of human beings who otherwise have no faith. Thus “the righteousness of God” is the power of God at work saving humanity (and the whole of creation), through the creation of faith in sinful persons.
The line between the camps of scholars holding these different interpretations of “the righteousness of God” is sharply drawn, and the debate over the validity of these interpretive options continues with intensity. See Ethics ; Grace ; Law; Mercy; Salvation .
SCRIPTURES ABOUT RIGHTEOUSNESS KJV:
1 John 2:29 - If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
Romans 5:1-5 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Read More...)
1 John 3:7 - Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
Isaiah 33:15-17 - He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; (Read More...)
Psalms 106:3 - Blessed [are] they that keep judgment, [and] he that doeth righteousness at all times.
1 Peter 5:10 - But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you].
1 Peter 3:14 - But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy [are ye]: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;1 Peter
Romans 10:4 - For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Matthew 5:20 - For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
2 Timothy 2:22 - Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Romans 8:4-6 - That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Read More...)
1 John 5:18 - We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
Ezekiel 18:5-9 - But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, (Read More...)
Philippians 1:11 - Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Proverbs 2:5-20 - Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. (Read More...)
James 1:4 - But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
I have "color coded" the Scriptures by my understanding as to which side of the debate they support........ Those left in black ink (in my opinion) appear to offer support to both sides of the debate.
This debate has been going on for a very long time, and I suspect it will continue until the return of Christ Himself. As with other such debates, each side is steadfast in their belief and there appears to be no center ground upon which they can stand to come to an agreement concerning man and righteousness.
In the end, each should study the Scriptures, and through sincere prayer, and the guidance of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, decide for themselves which side of this debate they stand on.
God bless........
p.rehbein
There is a debate concerning can a believer be "righteous?" The two camps are strongly split on this, and both have some Scriptural support for their views. To begin to answer this question, it is necessary to both determine the Biblical definition of righteousness, and to study the Scriptures concerning righteousness. Below are the Biblical definition (from the Holman Bible), and some Scriptures that speak of righteousness. There may be other Scriptures, but these are the ones published when doing a "search" for Scriptures about righteousness.
Biblical definition of righteousness:
(from the Holman Bible Dictionary)
https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=Awr...ess.html/RK=2/RS=i_kq2kpdVCRswBeIrvfpXoHdzMw-
(excerpt)
New Testament Greek philosophy understood righteousness to be one of the cardinal virtues, but New Testament authors show that they understood the word in terms of Old Testament thinking about covenantal relations. Human righteousness in the New Testament is absolute faith in and commitment to God (Matthew 3:15 ; Romans 4:5 ; 1 Peter 2:24 ). The one who in faith gives oneself to the doing of God's will is righteous, doing righteousness, and reckoned righteous by God (James 2:23 ). The focus of faith in God is the saving activity of God in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-26 ). The human-to-human dimension of righteousness observed in the Old Testament is present in New Testament thought (Philippians 1:3-11 ), but it seems less prominent, perhaps because of the importance of the New Testament concept of love.
At the heart of New Testament thinking about righteousness is the notion of God's righteousness (Matthew 6:33 ; Acts 17:31 ; Romans 1:17 ; Ephesians 4:24 ; James 1:20 ). Interpreters debate whether the phrase “righteousness of God” is a subjective genitive , meaning “God is righteous,” or an objective genitive , meaning “God gives righteousness.”
This grammatical distinction is more than a point about subtle linguistic nuance. In the New Testament, especially in Paul's letters, “the righteousness of God” is the key to understanding the salvation of humanity.
Interpreters who take “the righteousness of God” to mean “God gives righteousness” see salvation as a God-created human possibility. Righteousness is that which God requires of humanity and which God gives as a gift to the person of faith. In this line of thought, faith is the condition for the reception of the gift of righteousness from God. God acts in Christ, and, in turn, humans react by having faith. Then God gives them righteousness or reckons them, on the basis of their faith, as if they were righteous.
On the other hand, interpreters who understand “the righteousness of God” to mean “God is righteous” contend that salvation is purely the work of God, God's saving activity in keeping the divine side of the covenant of creation. God acts in Christ, and part of that action is the creation of faith on the part of human beings who otherwise have no faith. Thus “the righteousness of God” is the power of God at work saving humanity (and the whole of creation), through the creation of faith in sinful persons.
The line between the camps of scholars holding these different interpretations of “the righteousness of God” is sharply drawn, and the debate over the validity of these interpretive options continues with intensity. See Ethics ; Grace ; Law; Mercy; Salvation .
SCRIPTURES ABOUT RIGHTEOUSNESS KJV:
1 John 2:29 - If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
Romans 5:1-5 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Read More...)
1 John 3:7 - Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
Isaiah 33:15-17 - He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; (Read More...)
Psalms 106:3 - Blessed [are] they that keep judgment, [and] he that doeth righteousness at all times.
1 Peter 5:10 - But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you].
1 Peter 3:14 - But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy [are ye]: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;1 Peter
Romans 10:4 - For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Matthew 5:20 - For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
2 Timothy 2:22 - Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Romans 8:4-6 - That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Read More...)
1 John 5:18 - We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
Ezekiel 18:5-9 - But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, (Read More...)
Philippians 1:11 - Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Proverbs 2:5-20 - Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. (Read More...)
James 1:4 - But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
I have "color coded" the Scriptures by my understanding as to which side of the debate they support........ Those left in black ink (in my opinion) appear to offer support to both sides of the debate.
This debate has been going on for a very long time, and I suspect it will continue until the return of Christ Himself. As with other such debates, each side is steadfast in their belief and there appears to be no center ground upon which they can stand to come to an agreement concerning man and righteousness.
In the end, each should study the Scriptures, and through sincere prayer, and the guidance of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, decide for themselves which side of this debate they stand on.
God bless........
p.rehbein
