Paul’s Theology of Righteousness – Part 3

• 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: shamelessness, impudence
  • What the disciples saw in Jesus’ prayer life was BOLDNESS.
  • 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.
      • 1. The ability to stand in the presence of the Father without a sense of shame, guilt, or inferiority–as if sin never existed.
      • 2. Justified or declared righteous
      • 3. A good position with God
      • 4. Approved by God
      • 5. Acceptable to God.
  • Your position in your family is what makes the blessings of the family attainable. It’s the knowledge of your position in the family that is the foundation for your relationship with all the other members.

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 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 5:20-21 NKJV

• The Father is so concerned with us being in right standing with Him that:
  • A. He gave his only begotten son
    • “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 NKJV
  • B. Jesus thought that it was so important that we be made righteous that he willingly laid his life down at the cross.
  • C. The benefits of this standing conferred on us must be worthy of the degree of sacrifice

• Two kinds of righteousness mentioned in the Bible: His and ours
  • “But we are all like an unclean thing,
    And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;
    We all fade as a leaf,
    And our iniquities, like the wind,
    Have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6 NKJV
  • “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.” Romans 10:1-3 NKJV
    • If men are ignorant of God’s way they will try to establish their own way.
    • “Then He charged them, saying, ‘Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.'” Mark 8:15 NKJV

Mankind has within an inherent consciousness of a superior/higher power, an irresistible urge to be in right standing with that power; and they, in ignorance, go about trying to establish right standing by their own abilities (usually either religion or politics), not realizing they are unable, by themselves, to obtain it.

“Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.'” Luke 18:9-14 NKJV

Humility is: withdrawing from my way, retiring from my way, and yielding to GOD’S WAY (not earned or merited, but a reception of MERCY).

• “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 NKJV
  • KINGDOM:
    • 1. Royal power
    • 2. Kingship
    • 3. Dominion
    • 4. Rule

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!!’
  • “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.” Romans 5:17 NKJV

• “Reign:”
  • 1. To be predominant
  • 2. To prevail
  • 3. To have superior or full dominion.
• We reign as kings. We reign by command. If Jesus conquered it we have authority over it.

If you’re not submitted to the one who owns the name, your right to use the name with authority is diminished.

“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 4:3-4 NKJV

The enemy understands the authority we have over him. He will do everything in his power to keep you from realizing your standing with God.

• “and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.” Mark 4:17 NKJV
  • He will ALWAYS try to use circumstances and temptations to distract you from the authority you have over him. Satan does not want you reigning over him.
• “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. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 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. 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
  • “Infirmities:” weakness; inability to produce results
  • The only people that can tap into His strength are those that admit they can’t do it.

“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!!
  • 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.
    • “Buffet:” blow after blow
  • The thorn was not a sickness. The only “blow after blow” in Paul’s life is when he would enter a town and the Jews would raise up against him again and again and again.
• “Thorn in the flesh:” a Hebraism used in both Testaments to represent personalities that become a hindrance
  • “know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. But they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the Lord your God has given you.” Joshua 23:13 NKJV
  • “‘And there shall no longer be a pricking brier or a painful thorn for the house of Israel from among all who are around them, who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord God.'” Ezekiel 28:24 NKJV

“The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” Mark 4:14-20 NKJV