After our discussions this week, I realized that perhaps getting a better grasp of what scripture says about righteousness would be helpful.  I encourage those who feel called to do a full word study on this as there are many facets and pieces to this part of the puzzle.   I have shared only some of the verses as there are simply too many.    I think this is also best understood in the context that we have three distinct parts, Spirit, Soul and Body.   I will hopefully get that post up this week as well.  I will come back to this and fill in some more comments, but the scripture speaks very plainly for itself on this topic.  Blessings.  As always, Father I ask for eyes to see, and ears to hear and our understanding to be fruitful. In Jesus name.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 The Passion Translation (TPT)
20 We are ambassadors[a] of the Anointed One who carry the message of Christ to the world, as though God were tenderly pleading[b] with them directly through our lips. So we tenderly plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Turn back to God and be reconciled to him.” 21 For God made[c] the only one who did not know sin to become sin for us,[d] so that we who did not know righteousness might become the righteousness of God through our union with him.[e]

Here is a link to the Biblegateway word search of “righteousness”… lots and lots of verses to be considered:

https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?qs_version=KJV&quicksearch=righteousness&begin=47&end=73

Matthew 6:33 King James Version (KJV) “33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Romans 6:13-22 King James Version (KJV)” 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.  15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.  16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.  18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.  19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.  21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.  22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”

Key point:  We can presently choose to yield our body parts/members to be servants of righteousness or slaves to unrighteousness.   So while by identity, at least part of us is the righteousness of God, our actions can be righteous or unrighteous.

2 Corinthians 9:9-11 New International Version (NIV) “9 As it is written:  “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;  their righteousness endures forever.”[a] 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”

Key point:  God can increase our supply and our store of seeds  and enlarge the harvest of our righteousness.    Having righteousness is not the only element.  Those who use it for God’s purposes see increase. 

Philippians 3:8-10 King James Version (KJV) “8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”

2 Timothy 3:16 King James Version (KJV) “16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

Key point:  If righteousness was just about what Jesus gave to us freely and there was nothing else to add to that righteousness, than scripture would not be necessary for instruction in righteousness.  I think possibly we could say that we are given righteousness but still need to learn how to walk in it and most of us need to learn who we are now that this righteousness has been imputed to us.

Titus 3:4-6 King James Version (KJV) “4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;”

Key point:  Clearly righteousness in part is about Him and Him alone and what He has done for us.   I believe that our spirits are made fully righteous by what Jesus has done but that our minds and bodies are not…  I will discuss this in the next post.

Hebrews 5:12-14 King James Version (KJV) “12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.  14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

Key point:  Through stuy and growth accomplished by knowing and being in the Word, we can become skilful in the word of righteousness and that those who are still on milk are not.    This definitely suggests to me that our effectiveness at expressing righteousness varies depending on our spiritual growth and understanding.

Hebrews 12:11 English Standard Version (ESV) “11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

Key Point:  discipline, us being corrected and instructed yields the fruit of righteousness so we can have righteousness but lack fruit if we do not receive these things.

James 3:17-18 New International Version (NIV) “17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

2 Peter 2:20-22 New American Standard Bible (NASB)”20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. 22 [a]It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”

Scripture speaks so clearly…  should give us a major pause.

1 John 2:29 Amplified Bible (AMP) “29 If you know that He is absolutely righteous, you know [for certain] that everyone who practices righteousness [doing what is right and conforming to God’s will] has been born of Him.”

Key point:   Being in the Word and believing what He says alone produces our righteousness, true righteousness is always confirmed with fruit, the more fruit of righteousness we sow, the greater harvest we will have of the fruits of righteousness.  So what does it mean when someone has no fruit???  Something to seriously think about.

1 John 3:6-8 New International Version (NIV)”6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. 7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”