INTRODUCTION
Last week we examined the reign of righteousness especially the impossibility of performing the Mosaic Law. But God has made His righteousness possible to attain by His gift of Salvation through Jesus (Yeshua) the Messiah.
This message covers righteousness by the faith of Jesus Christ. It explains God’s righteousness by Israel’s covenant of law distinguished from His righteousness that is by salvation. The latter creates a “new covenant” and ONE standard of righteousness in the “inward parts” by the implantation of a “new heart” and a “new Spirit” in all who believe – Jews and non-Jews, in order to ensure the reign of spiritual righteousness.
1. GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ISRAEL’S COVENANT
God separated the children of Israel (Jacob’s sons) as His chosen people and revealed Himself to them as the God Almighty, also named JEHOVAH. He established a covenant with them for a “testimony in Jacob”, to take them for a people and He will be their God; and that they will know Him as their God who delivers them from bondage. The covenant was sealed as “a law in Israel” (the Mosaic Law), “that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments”; (Exodus 6:3&7; Psalm 78:5 -7).
God set Israel before the nations not because they were righteous or upright in heart, but because of the wickedness of the other nations, that He might perform the promise of salvation, for the redemption of the world. (Exodus 6:3; Deuteronomy 9:5-6; Psalm 78:8). Israel was to be the standard by which the nations of the world who serve worldly kings and other gods would come to know Him as the righteous King and turn from their wicked ways.
But Israel’s ways (including their obedience to the laws) was inadequate to exemplify them as God’s standard for righteousness and justice before the heathen nations of the earth. They were a stubborn and rebellious people “that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God”. They defiled God’s land by their own “wicked ways” and by their “corrupt doings” and became “uncleanliness” before the Holy God. (Psalm 78:8; Ezekiel 20:44 & 36:17; Amos 5:26; Acts 7:43).
2. RIGHTEOUSNESS BY SALVATION: FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST
Since Israel’s “heart was not right with [God] neither were they steadfast in his covenant”, God himself takes over the Mosaic covenant, which Israel had broken by their ways. He ordains a “new covenant” which was not premised upon their righteousness but God’s. Brethren, this breach is symbolised in the tables of commandment that Moses break beneath the mount when the people worshiped golden a calf and God had to “write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets”. (Psalm 78:37; Exodus 32;19; 34:1).
2.1 The “New Covenant” of God’s Righteousness
The “new covenant” is based on God’s righteousness by salvation. This righteousness manifests in His Spirit made flesh in Jesus Christ, who is the promised messiah, who atones for the sins of Israel and the sins of the whole world. (Psalm 78:37; Galatians 3:19; 1 John 2:2). The reign of God’s righteousness by salvation through Jesus shall not be abolished; and on it shall his people trust and say, “in the LORD have I righteousness and strength” and to him shall men come. (Isaiah 51:5; 45:24-25). Let us now examine the features of God’s “new covenant” of righteousness.
2.2. Righteousness in the ‘Inward Parts’ – In “Heart” and “Spirit”
Of the “new covenant” God says “I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people”. (Jeremiah 31:31-33; Hebrews 8:10). How does God put His Law in the “inward parts” to ensure righteous obedience? He says,
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. I will also save you from all your uncleanness….” (Ezekiel 36:26-29).
Brethren observe that in the new covenant, God undertakes to and will do everything to fulfill the righteousness of His law. His people will obtain a “new heart” of flesh that is over-written with His law. Note that Jesus was the “Word made flesh” full of GRACE and TRUTH, who came to fulfill the law and the prophets (John 1:14; 5:17).
God also promises to impart a “new spirit” in the people and they shall receive cleansing from sin. Note that by operation of the “new covenant” God makes his son to be sin for us so “that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” through GRACE unto eternal life. The “new spirit” is the anointing of the Holy Spirit which believers in Christ shall receive, that will live in their “inward parts” so that they would not need anyone to teach them what is truth and righteousness (Romans 5:19-21; 2 Corinthians 5: 21; 1 John 2:27).
The main condition for Israel under the “new covenant” thus is not based on the observance of the law, but rather on faith in God’s righteousness – i.e. the salvation through Christ. Salvation faith is of the heart and is led by the Holy Spirit, which remains to guide the people to keep righteous judgment. With God’s salvation existing, no one will thereafter be justified in His sight by works of the Law for righteousness, because ” in the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified and shall glory”(Isaiah 45:24-25).
3. ONE STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
3.1. Believing Heart and a New Spirit:
By ordaining the “new covenant” for Israel upon the gift of salvation, God was also reconciling the world unto himself, as well as Israel by the faith of Jesus Christ as one standard of righteousness. Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life” in God, by whom the one God will justify the circumcised Jew and the uncircumcised through that same faith; “For through Christ [both Jew and non-Jew] have access to the Father by one Spirit”. (2 Corinthians 5:19; John 10:9 & 14:16; John 6:44-45 & 65; Romans 3:30; Ephesians 2:18).
3.2. A Believing Heart to Righteousness
“The righteousness of God” is revealed in the gospel of Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation. God’s righteousness is imputed unto all and upon all them that believe and have faith in Jesus Christ, Jews or gentile alike, without distinction. (Romans 3:21-22). The “righteousness of God” which is the “righteousness of faith” is expressed when one confesses from the heart the Lord Jesus: “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”. (Romans 10:9-10 & 13 ).
Brethren note that the bases of belief in the Faith of Christ as God’s righteousness is symbolized in Abraham’s belief in God’s promise. Not being under law, Abraham believed in the promise of God to multiply his descendants as the stars and that “In [him] shall all nations be blessed”. This ‘belief’ was counted unto Abraham for righteousness and was in essence a foreshadowing that God would justify the heathen through faith. (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:5-6; & 28:14-15; Romans 4:20-22; Galatians 3:6-8).
4. A SPIRIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Once salvation is obtained by the faith of Jesus Christ, God’ will put His Spirit in the believer (Jew or heathen) and cause them to walk in and keep righteousness (Ezekiel 36:27). This is the Holy Spirit that Jesus promises His Father will send on the earth after he ascends to heaven, and believers could physically “see him no more”. And the Spirit shall reprove the world of righteousness (John 16:7-10).
This Holy “Spirit of Truth”, searches all things, even “the deep things of God” and he that is spiritual is enabled to judge all things. He “will guide [believers] into all truth” and to spiritually discern right from wrong and to “compare spiritual things with spiritual” (John 16:13; 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:10-16).
Knowing the “mind of Christ” The Spirit shall instill righteous consciousness of Jesus in those who believe and they shall no longer explain away unrighteous, evil or unjust behaviour nor accept it as appropriate. For example they shall not call a “vile” person who speak and conceive evil from the heart, which practice hypocrisy, blasphemy that leads people astray “a liberal”. Neither shall they attribute cleverness or admiration for the “churl” who devise evil schemes to exploit or destroy the poor (Isaiah 32:5-7).
The spiritual reign will therefore ensure a clear distinction between righteousness and evil. Believers will by the conviction of the Spirit, opt to become a “fruitful field” in righteousness as opposed to a “wilderness” of unrighteousness. “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever”.(Isaiah 32:15-17; Psalm 51:6 John 14:17; Galatians 5:22-25)
5. FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Brethren, God has ordained for all mankind a unified standard of righteousness in a “new covenant” that may be written upon one’s Heart and discernible by His Spiritual guidance. The covenant works by the conditioning of our hearts to believe in God’s salvation wrought through Jesus Christ and to trust in His Spiritual power to assist us to walk in his ways and to keep his judgements.
This process of righteousness continues even after one is saved and leads to a gradual spiritual growth as one’s heart softens towards God by hiding His Holy Spirit. The sacrifice of Jesus meanwhile remains in continual atonement and cleansing for one’s sins.
Next week by grace we continue to examine the righteous reign of Christ the King, especially the place of sin under grace, justice for the Vulnerable and the power over bondage.
PRAYER
Almighty Father, thank you for your word and your righteousness to all thy children. We give you all the power and the Glory forever.
Dear Lord, grant thy Children an unwavering faith in your finished work of righteousness in Christ Jesus. Help them to overcome doubt and make their hearts as a “fruitful field”; and that they resist not your Spirit of Truth to make righteous judgement in their walk with you.
I make this prayer in JESUS NAME. Have a Sabbath of peace!
Lots of Love, P. Schwartz (SOG), 1 December 2017.
