Righteousness Starts with a Belief in God

The Bible tells us that the righteous will dwell in the House of the Lord forever. But only God can judge who is righteous. And it is the righteous who believe in God.

Romans 4:3 says, “For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’” Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” All good things are because of God, and anything that one who may be judged by Him to be righteous, who sees things they consider to be good, are things of a consequence of God’s Goodness. Romans 8:28 says that with God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.

Now, what if we encounter someone who does good things, but who says they don’t believe in God? What are we to think, if anything? If all good things are because of God, wouldn’t it be a contradiction to say that one is a good person, but they don’t believe in Him? But an understanding of Romans 8:28 involves an acceptance that God will use anyone according to His purpose, even those who don’t believe in him.

We see in the news, of bad guys killing other bad guys. God may have considered, for we don’t know for sure, that those other bad guys are more of a threat to good people that the bad guys that killed them. Did not the non-believing Russians in World War Two kill the non-believing Germans who were a bigger threat to the good people in the world than the Russians were? Would God judge those Russians to be good, who don’t believe in Him? Perhaps not, even though what they did would otherwise be considered an act of righteousness. Would those non-believing Russians dwell in the House of the Lord? The Bible tells us they won’t, because they do not believe in God.

John 3:16 tells us that whoever believes in God will be saved. Jesus had directed his disciples to spread the Word, that those who learn of God’s existence and who come to believe in Him will be saved, so that there is no one left who doesn’t believe in Him.

And it is through Jesus that we may come to believe in God in a righteous manner. Jesus said that nobody comes to God except through Him. This is a blowback against the scribes and Pharisees of his day, who allowed gambling in the Temple of God on the Sabbath. These were the same scribes and Pharisees who condemned Jesus for performing miracles on the Sabbath? But what better way is there for one to do godly acts on a day that God has set aside for us? What better way to acknowledge him than to do acts of righteousness on that day? Is it not good to heal the sick and the handicapped?

In all things, the righteous are called to God before (instead of?) anyone else.

Yes, Abraham believed God, and this was accounted to him as righteousness.

For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God Romans3:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord Romans6:23
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Who do no walk according to the flesh, but according to the
Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. Romans8:1-2

The righteous are predisposed to believe in God. They do things from a good conscience and care for others. So then they are not the primary target of the gospel...seeing they already are doing many things right. But the righteous will hear the gospel and respond favourably. However, it is sinners that are forgiven much that go further into the kingdom. That is how the righteousness of God gets a foothold in the world...not through the righteous...but through converted sinners (think Paul).
All this towards they who now believe.

God is not a stickler about who is who. He is not a respecter of persons. So if an atheist does what is good...will he not receive for the goos he has done? We will be judged by our works not our beliefs about God or ourselves.

There is a parable that says that 2 sons were asked to do something...one said he would (the believer)...but didn't...and the other said he wouldn't (non-believer) but did!!! Which one was justified?

Of course it's better to both say and do.

God uses the unrighteous against the unrighteous...this does not justify them. It justifies God.

We need to do more than believe in God...for so do the demons. We need to go where Jesus is and do what He did.
Unless our righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees we believe in vain.
That would be the holy. The righteous are barely saved...but they are many. The holy are few. In the next age the holy will rule over the righteous.

I don't see biblical support for many of your assertions. There are no "righteous" who are not in need of salvation. "There is none righteous, not even one" (Romans 3:10).

The only way anyone's righteousness can exceed that of the Pharisees is by the imputed righteousness of Christ. That happens by faith.

Jesus died for the sins of the whole world...even beyond who we might think be saved based on our own opinions. God is indeed God and He saves whom He wills.

You must be careful when using a verse in a way that contradicts other verse. Th righteous still sin...that's the point. No one is so righteous on his own that he doesn't sin.





That is not the meaning of what Jesus said. You are looking at people from a black/white distinction...which isn't correct.

A person can surpass the righteousness of the Pharisees by becoming humble...having mercy...becoming wise...etc... Even a child is known by his behaviour. You can't say that every person is wicked. That's religious dogmatism....and very Pharisee -like.

demon killa?

wonder where they bury them

ps...you can't kill a spirit

Amen! The Pharisees had invented their own system of law expanding on Moses law, thus sitting in his seat and they thought of themselves as righteous because of their obedience "on their terms," not God's (Matthew 15:1-3).

Paul explains in Romans 9:30-32: What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.

In Romans 10:3-4, Paul makes it clear “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 - For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

As believers, our righteousness comes from Christ, it is imputed to us. Romans 4:5 - But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works.

This is how our righteousness exceeds the Pharisees. By trusting in the RIGHTEOUS ONE, JESUS CHRIST.

Philippians 3:9 - “and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith”

Romans 3:21-22 “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.“

The Pharisees depended on their works, especially those seen to justify them. But it justified them before deceived men, not God.

The hell you say, a soul without light is like a body without a spirit. (See Luke 11:35-36)

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matt 10:28

I was referring to the dude's handle...he calls himself spirit killer

try paying attention and maybe a little less self righteous religion going on

the hell I say? should we follow your expletives here also?

great example there zzzzzzzz

maybe reread the scripture you referenced and lobbed at me. apply to yourself first, take out your own log before looking for splinters in others


Luke 11:35-36
35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you

Really? So DemonKilla2018 is saying that he is a spirit killer? Is that what he is really saying or is that just your interpretation but as far as you judgment of me, I can't deny that I probably am more self righteous than you but when you live by the word of God then you gotta know that you are going to die by the word of God.

So if you don't think that DemonKilla2018 could kill a demon then what do you think was meant by Matt 26:52 " for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." or do you believe it refers unto earthly things,.

"So if you think warning somebody who is swinging a sword is evil then I am sure you wouldn't stab a beam in my eye if you weren't swinging your sword at DemonKilla2018, cause good sees good and evil sees evil.

Why thank you, but I guess you didn't hear verse 34 it is written that the light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light;

no demons cannot be killed by human beings

the Bible does not teach that and only God can rid us of them as He will when they and their leader are thrown into the lake of fire

I have no idea how you equate what Jesus said regarding swords with killing spirit beings

utter nonsense

I think you have run yourself through with your frantic sword waving

this is one of the most off beat things you have posted

not responding to this again.