OT vs NT Righteousness

[John146]

First, let's look into the OT. Under the OT, the law, a man could be righteous before God by walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the law, however, it was self righteousness. A man could be blameless under the law, but not sinless.

Deuteronomy 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.

2 Samuel 22:21 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Under the law, sins could be forgiven but not cleared. Sins would be covered, but not washed away.

Leviticus 19:21 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering. 22 And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the Lord for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him.

Exodus 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

 

[John146]

The righteousness found under the NT, Jesus Christ, is God's righteousness not self righteousness attainable under the law.

Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Verse 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

 

[John146]

First, let's look into the OT. Under the OT, the law, a man could be righteous before God by walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the law, however, it was self righteousness. A man could be blameless under the law, but not sinless.

Deuteronomy 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.

2 Samuel 22:21 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Under the law, sins could be forgiven but not cleared. Sins would be covered, but not washed away.

Leviticus 19:21 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering. 22 And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the Lord for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him.

Exodus 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

The question should not be whether those OT saints were eternally saved or not, the question is, who’s righteousness did they have and how?

 

[JaumeJ]

By the Holy Spirit those prophets wrote down the Word of God. Whose righteousness gave the grace to these men?

 

[FollowHisSteps]

First, let's look into the OT. Under the OT, the law, a man could be righteous before God by walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the law, however, it was self righteousness. A man could be blameless under the law, but not sinless.

Deuteronomy 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.

2 Samuel 22:21 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Under the law, sins could be forgiven but not cleared. Sins would be covered, but not washed away.

Leviticus 19:21 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering. 22 And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the Lord for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him.

Exodus 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

I cannot agree with you. Righteousness has always been by faith.

7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.
By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed
and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in
tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
Heb 11

The only reason people want to claim righteousness has changed so that they can justify not
obeying the commands of God.

But love demands that we love, it is the fulfilment of the law, so we are just as much in obedience
as any followers of God in the past.

The difference is we have personal communion with God in our hearts through the Holy Spirit in
dwelling us as we walk, the Kingdom of heaven on earth.

 

[seed_time_harvest]

First, let's look into the OT. Under the OT, the law, a man could be righteous before God by walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the law, however, it was self righteousness. A man could be blameless under the law, but not sinless.

Deuteronomy 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.

2 Samuel 22:21 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Under the law, sins could be forgiven but not cleared. Sins would be covered, but not washed away.

Leviticus 19:21 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering. 22 And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the Lord for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him.

Exodus 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

IMO,the only way a person can be righteous under law would be where sin Is not Imputed where there Is no law and I’m talking about a whether person’s conscience Is accusing them or not.

Deuteronomy 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.

Our own righteousness In this scripture sounds like rewards at CHRIST judgement seat but then again before we can get rewards we have to receive salvation by grace through faith so then I’m confused on this one being this was spoken In the Old Testament.

So then It WOULD be our righteousness If any one could be righteous In their own strength.

 

[Deade]

I cannot agree with you. Righteousness has always been by faith.

7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.
By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed
and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in
tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
Heb 11

The only reason people want to claim righteousness has changed so that they can justify not
obeying the commands of God.

But love demands that we love, it is the fulfilment of the law, so we are just as much in obedience
as any followers of God in the past.

The difference is we have personal communion with God in our hearts through the Holy Spirit in
dwelling us as we walk, the Kingdom of heaven on earth.

I agree. One is righteous only by faith. Always has been, always will be.

 

[John146]

I cannot agree with you. Righteousness has always been by faith.

7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.
By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed
and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in
tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
Heb 11

The only reason people want to claim righteousness has changed so that they can justify not
obeying the commands of God.

But love demands that we love, it is the fulfilment of the law, so we are just as much in obedience
as any followers of God in the past.

The difference is we have personal communion with God in our hearts through the Holy Spirit in
dwelling us as we walk, the Kingdom of heaven on earth.

Scripture is pretty clear. No interpretation needed. How were they righteous? By being blameless in following all the commandments and ordinances.

Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

 

[John146]

I agree. One is righteous only by faith. Always has been, always will be.

You disagree with the Scripture I posted? There is a huge difference in self righteousness following the law, which many were, and God's righteousness through Jesus Christ. If those OT saints had God's righteousness they would have been present with the Lord upon death.

 

[Deade]

You disagree with the Scripture I posted? There is a huge difference in self righteousness following the law, which many were, and God's righteousness through Jesus Christ. If those OT saints had God's righteousness they would have been present with the Lord upon death.

If someone is following the law and they have one moment of hate dwelling in their heart, they have transgressed the law. The blood of animals will never pay for human sin, but was used under the law for when we fell short. Your scripture in Luke 1:5 says they were righteous before God (In His view) not necessarily having never sinned. So, it was still imputed.

 

[JaumeJ]

Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him as righteousness. So it is always with all who believe God, no matter how they have come to know Him, for no man can know God unless this knowledge is of the Holy Spirit, or in other words, from God.

 

[Sipsey]

I prefer to keep it simple. A Savior was prophesied early in Scripture; I think believing what God has said is paramount, especially concerning our need and His intent to provide and send one. The people in the OT were saved when they truely believed He would send one. The NT people are likewise saved when they truely believe He did send one.

 

[John146]

If someone is following the law and they have one moment of hate dwelling in their heart, they have transgressed the law. The blood of animals will never pay for human sin, but was used under the law for when we fell short. Your scripture in Luke 1:5 says they were righteous before God (In His view) not necessarily having never sinned. So, it was still imputed.

Correct! The blood of bulls and goats could never take away sin, but sins could be forgiven temporarily, but not cleared. Zacharias and Elizabeth were sinners, but they were righteous because they walk in all the commands and ordinances of the Lord. They were blameless when it came to following the law, not sinless. Blameless is not sinless. It was self righteousness not God's righteousness through the cross of Christ.

 

[John146]

I prefer to keep it simple. A Savior was prophesied early in Scripture; I think believing what God has said is paramount, especially concerning our need and His intent to provide and send one. The people in the OT were saved when they truely believed He would send one. The NT people are likewise saved when they truely believe He did send one.

Soooooo, one could believe in a future savior, not follow the law, and be saved? What were they saved to? Abraham's bosom? Is that salvation? Btw, the only way unto salvation is believing in the shed blood of Jesus Christ for sins. No one understood or look forward to the cross. No one in the OT. It was a mystery until after revealed.

 

[John146]

Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him as righteousness. So it is always with all who believe God, no matter how they have come to know Him, for no man can know God unless this knowledge is of the Holy Spirit, or in other words, from God.

Abraham is a type of what we have today. This was before the law.

 

[Sipsey]

Soooooo, one could believe in a future savior, not follow the law, and be saved? What were they saved to? Abraham's bosom? Is that salvation? Btw, the only way unto salvation is believing in the shed blood of Jesus Christ for sins. No one understood or look forward to the cross. No one in the OT. It was a mystery until after revealed.

What did the law and whole sacrificial system point to?

 

[Nehemiah6]

The question should not be whether those OT saints were eternally saved or not, the question is, who’s righteousness did they have and how?

There are too many today who try to complicate things which are simple (not meaning you or this thread bu in general).

Back to your question:

OT RIGHTEOUSNESS
1. Imputed righteousness -- given by God to those who believed Him (justified by grace through faith)

2. Actual righteousness -- those who obeyed God and His commandments

NT RIGHTEOUSNESS
1. Imputed righteousness -- given by God to those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (justified by grace through faith)

2. Actual righteousness -- those who obey Christ and His commandments

 

[Blik]

You disagree with the Scripture I posted? There is a huge difference in self righteousness following the law, which many were, and God's righteousness through Jesus Christ. If those OT saints had God's righteousness they would have been present with the Lord upon death.

It is not true that we have different Gods who relate to us in different ways. Jesus Christ has been from the beginning, the sacrificial system was all about Christ. Salvation has always required the blood of Christ although for 4,000 years it was the symbolic blood. To understand Christ we need to learn what the sacrificial system did, for what it did Christ did only better.

The only difference in what the sacrificial system did and what Christ did is explained in Matt. 27: 51-53. At the crucifixion of Christ when the curtain was split the saints of the OT came alive, for they had been sleeping. The thief on the cross did not sleep at his earthly death but went to heaven.

You cannot find any scripture saying we have a different God, not in faith, in requirement for salvation, in grace, in love for us, or in any other way. Scripture tells us God is one.

 

[John146]

What did the law and whole sacrificial system point to?

Our need of something greater than the righteousness found under the law.

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.

And then they were told to seek God’s righteousness.

6:33 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

God’s righteousness was not available until after the cross, the death of the testator.

 

[John146]

It is not true that we have different Gods who relate to us in different ways. Jesus Christ has been from the beginning, the sacrificial system was all about Christ. Salvation has always required the blood of Christ although for 4,000 years it was the symbolic blood. To understand Christ we need to learn what the sacrificial system did, for what it did Christ did only better.

The only difference in what the sacrificial system did and what Christ did is explained in Matt. 27: 51-53. At the crucifixion of Christ when the curtain was split the saints of the OT came alive, for they had been sleeping. The thief on the cross did not sleep at his earthly death but went to heaven.

You cannot find any scripture saying we have a different God, not in faith, in requirement for salvation, in grace, in love for us, or in any other way. Scripture tells us God is one.

Only one way unto eternal salvation, the gospel of Jesus Christ. This was a mystery until after His resurrection. OT saints were not saved unless you consider Abraham’s bosom eternal salvation. I don’t.

Can you post Scripture where those OT saints trusted in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ for sins? Not even Peter and the disciples knew about the cross until after it happened.