JUSTIFICATION AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
Righteousness is inseparable from justification. Righteousness is the consequence of justification by the blood of Jesus.
Justification
John Bunyan’s definition: Justification with God is when a man stands clear, quit, free, or in a saved condition before God, in the approbation (approval) of His holy law.
Justification with man is when a man stands before another, clear and quit from just ground of reprehension (blame or fault) because all things are in accord with some transient law.
Obeying a law of the land which is not in conflict with the law of God is a righteous act in the eyes of God
2 Kings 10:30 And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because you have done well in executing that which is right in my eyes, and have done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.
But that righteous act does not ascribe to you righteousness before God’s law. See the very next verse:
2 Kings 10:31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin.
By contrast we shall see that a person who is justified by God retains the righteousness of Christ imputed to him even when he commits an unrighteous act, and he remains justified. More on that later.
The world since Adam has been populated by sinners – by those whose very nature is fallen because we are the children of Adam.
Because of our fallen nature it is IMPOSSIBLE for us to keep the laws of God, whether we knew them or not, whether we wanted to or not. Humans for the most part, but to varying degree, show clear signs of self-will, greed and selfishness virtually from birth. To this as we grow older can be added lust and rebellion. All these qualities and characteristics are in opposition to God’s law.
Because we are sinners we sin. What is sin?
1 John 3:4 Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Sin is any action in defiance of the Law. But …
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
So not a single one of us is qualified to pass judgement on another. As sinners we are under the Curse of the Law too because by our very natures we live in opposition to the Law.
Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
CONCLUSION – We are cursed and we are doomed! We need a Saviour! What is a saviour? Someone who will deliver us from inevitable consequences. What are the inevitable consequences? Eternal separation from our Creator in hell.
The ONLY solution is for us to be clothed in the righteousness of another, to have the perfect, holy righteousness of God in some way passed to us even though we deserve no such mercy and our only defence in mitigation is that “we can’t help it!” In spite of ourselves we do what we do not want to do and do not do what we should do – just like Paul. A Saviour is the ONLY answer and that is exactly what God gives us.
But who can this savour be? What must be his qualities? What price must he pay for us?
Firstly his qualities.
a. He must be fully human.
b. He must be a descendant of Adam through Abraham and Isaac.
c. He must be born under law.
d. He must be free from all sin.
e. Which means he must keep the Law perfectly – every jot and tittle of it and therefore …..
f. He must be completely righteous
Secondly – the price he must pay.
a. He must be willing to stand in the place of sinful men from Adam onwards and take upon himself as it were all their sin as if he had committed it himself.
b. He must be willing to take the judgement of God for this sin.
c. To fulfil the demands of the law for the sin of the world – which is death – he must be willing to die to pay sins wages.
Who can this person be? – ONLY Emmanuel – God with us. He fulfilled ALL the requirements – but at great cost. He “earned” His righteousness – His saving righteousness, that is the righteousness which is so pure he imputes it to us – He was that because of His total obedience to the law as a man for ALL His earthly life.
Romans 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Because of His obedience He fulfilled the law and became the end of it.
Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes.
The end of the law is perfect righteousness. We who believe stand in that perfect righteousness – we have it imputed to us. It is still His righteousness but He clothes us with it. It is a free gift.
If we believe in His atoning death, we are justified, and if we are justified we are clothed in His righteousness AND
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Therefore we can NOT lose our salvation. Praise the Lord for His mercies fresh every morning. Great is His faithfulness.
