Paul’s Theology of Righteousness – Part 5

Message Date: August 29, 2021
Bible
Review:
    • “I say to you,though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.” Luke 11:8 NKJV
      • Importunity/ persistence
      • Strong’s definition (from the Greek): shamelessness, impudence
    • What the disciples saw in Jesus’ prayer life was BOLDNESS. Jesus taught us to relate to the Father shamelessly.
    • Righteousness: who WE ARE in relationship to Him; literally “right standing”
      • It’s a standing, not a state. It’s a position, not a condition
Justification vs. sanctification (from, not for)
    • Justification is how God made man right with Him

Remember there are two kinds of righteousness mentioned in the Bible.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 NKJV
    • Kingdom: the spiritual realm that has God as its head
    • His righteousness: how God makes you righteous before him; His way of making you righteous before Him
  • We are to seek the spiritual realm that has God as its head, and HIS way of making us righteous before Him. This enables us to receive ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THE WORLD SEEKS AFTER!!
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10 NKJV
    • “Exalted:” to lift up
    • “Above measure:” beyond the mark; i.e. Beyond the usual level of the life of humanity
      • How? Through the abundance of revelation!!!
      • With every revelation in the Word there is the power raise you up and throw you beyond the usual mark!!
    • “Infirmities:” weakness; inability to produce results
      • The only people that can tap into His strength are those that admit they can’t do it.
  • Paul’s thorn, AS DEFINED BY SCRIPTURE, was a messenger FROM Satan sent to BUFFET him BECAUSE God had given him an abundance of revelation.
    • By this revelation Paul had the opportunity to be lifted and thrown beyond the usual mark for a human. Satan was trying to lessen His impact in the world.
  • Paul learned from Jesus, and then came back and conferred with Peter and James. Not only did they agree with his doctrine, but they sent him out to spread the gospel message. It was Paul who went missionary.

Paul’s revelation:

1. Man’s condition without righteousness
2. How God made righteousness available to man
3. What righteousness is
4. How righteousness is obtained
5. The responsibilities of those who possess righteousness
6. The benefits of righteousness
Last week we looked at the first two:
1. Man’s condition without righteousness
  • Leaven of Herod: Hedonism
    • 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. Romans 1:18-32 NKJV    
  • Leaven of the Pharisees: legalism
    • 10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” 13 “Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; 14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways; 17 And the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:10-23 NKKJV
2. How God made righteousness available to man
  •  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV
    • He gave us HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
  • 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:17-21 NKJV
    • “Reign:” to be predominant,  to prevail, to have superior or full dominion
In Jesus, God redeemed His original intentions for man. But he didn’t stop there…
GOD’S ORIGINAL INTENTIONS FOR MAN ARE HIS ETERNAL INTENTIONS.
    1. Dominion
    2. To partake of and enjoy all that God has provided
    3. To dress and keep it (responsibility)
    4. Fellowship with God
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26 NKJV
1. To exercise dominion in the earth
  • Dominion:
    • Subjugate
    • Dominate
    • Rule
God never intended for man to be dominated by fear, or stress, or shame. Shame came as a result of SIN.
    • Our ability to dominate is directly related to our position with God.
    • Our right standing is more precious than Adam’s, because ours cost Jesus His life.
    • Our right standing is more solid than Adam’s, because it’s His righteousness.
2. To partake of and enjoy all that God has provided
Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28 NKJV
– In the beginning, from a natural standpoint, God created everything man needed to live a successful life.
⁃ Jesus, through His death, burial, and resurrection, provided EVERYTHING man needed to live a successful life on earth from a SUPERNATURAL STANDPOINT.
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10 NKJV
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]. John 10:10 AMP

15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. Genesis 2:15 NKJV

3. Dress and keep
  • “Dress:” cultive
  • “Keep:” guard or protect
    • The responsibility of cultivating and protecting what God gave us to enjoy.
    • Of whom much is given, much is required. Our position gives us the ability to stand and resist the devil.
8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8 NKJV
4. Fellowship with God

Our ability to have fellowship with The Father is a result of our position and standing with Him.

As long as Adam and Eve were in right standing:
    1. No fear
    2. No sense of failure or inferiority
    3. No lack of fellowship
    4. No envy, stealing, lying
1Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, Hebrews 6:1
    • “Dead works:” things people become involved with that cannot enhance their lives
    • The only reason for lies, cheating, stealing etc. is to elevate your position in life.
    • When we understand that righteousness is the highest position available to mankind, there’s no cause for strife or envy or lies or ANY dead works. We can spend our time bearing the FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
When Adam fell, we lost our ability to
    1. Have dominion
    2. Enjoy God’s provision
    3. Cultivate and protect
    4. Have unbroken fellowship with God

In Jesus, ALL OF THESE HAVE BEEN RESTORED.

  • SATAN CANNOT STEAL YOUR ABILITY TO REIGN IN LIFE , so he tries to get you to FORFEIT your standing through deception.
    • 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. 2 Corinthians 2:11 NKJV
    • 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 1 Timothy 2:14 NKJV
      • “Deceived:” to cause to think on things not true.

Genesis sets the precedent. This is how the enemy operates.

The issue of sin is the issue of forfeiting your rightful position, standing, and your ability to reign in life.