Get this. The just, justified, righteous, or whatever your Bible says in Romans 1:17, shall live by faith. In other words, those people who are right in God’s eyes live by faith. They may have just fallen 10 times in one day alone, but they are righteous because they live by faith. Get it?
So who are the righteous? If you are looking for the righteous you are looking for someone who believes every Word of God and not necessarily someone who did not sin today (Romans 4:20-24).
Romans 4:20-25
20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. NKJV
Are we on the same page so far? If not ask and Lord willing I will help you understand it. Imputed righteousness is because of “belief,” and believing in the way Abraham believed who was “fully convinced” about what God said and he did not waver through unbelief.
Therefore, you can’t look out and say that because so and so sinned, they are not righteous. No it doesn’t work that way, but if so and so speaks in direct opposition to what is written in the Word of God they cannot possibly believe what God has said. That person cannot be righteous because the righteousness of faith involves speaking in line with the faith and refusing to speak against the faith (Romans 10:6-8). It’s just that simple. They would have to repent and then refuse to speak against the faith.
Romans 10:6-8
6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?'” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, “‘Who will descend into the abyss?'” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach). NKJV
Now think about that for a moment. I know some pretty good people. They are well to do, they pay their bills on time, they drive the speed limit, they never bother anyone, and they’ve been married forever. They do the “expected thing” in the world’s eyes, and they attend church every week, but they are very far from being righteous by faith. You wouldn’t know that by looking at them, but only by listening to what they say. A tree is recognized by its fruit (Matthew 12:33-37, 7:15-20, 15:15-20, John 7:38, James 3:2).
Let me ask you this. Would you say that Jesus showed loved to the Pharisees who spoke in direct opposition to the faith? Would you say that Paul loved Peter when he opposed him to his face in front of everyone (Galatians 2:14)? It’s very easy to make a judgment call according to the world’s standards because that’s how we were raised. Jesus said that we should not judge by appearance, but according to righteousness (John 7:24).
Like the Pharisees, those who claim to know the right path, but lead people astray need to be corrected. They are in danger of becoming blind and their sin remaining (John 9:39-41). Some can simply be shown a verse and they will change their mind. Others need a little nudge, and still some need to be rebuked sharply (Jude 1:22-23, Titus 1:13, 2:15, 1 Timothy 5:20). Give no heed (pay no attention) to those who reject or turn away from the truth (Titus 1:14). Withdraw from them (1 Timothy 6:3-5, Romans 16:17-18).
The most righteous person I have probably ever met did some time in jail, got off drugs a few years ago, and now he is a deacon in a denominational church. He is certainly righteous by faith and his righteousness is probably close to being sealed by now (Romans 4:11, Colossians 2:11, James 2:20-24). Most churches will not allow him to preach because their kind of faith is based on what they can see with their eyes, but that’s all temporary.
2 Corinthians 4:18
18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. NKJV
Now here is your homework. Go throughout the entire Bible and pick out the promises that are for the righteous and know why you are not receiving what is promised. There are many. In fact, most of the promises you hear on radio and TV today are actually for the righteous and not the unrighteous.
That’s why you don’t see many healings in the USA today where the people don’t die of the same disease a few months later. We quote the promises, but then we reject certain parts of the Gospel. We live by the laws of Moses until we get sick and then we switch to faith in Jesus. Can we be righteous? As quick as you walk in a place and they say they do not believe this part of the Bible or that passage of scripture you can be sure that you are not listening to the righteous. Run!
Here is an example of a promise that is for the righteous.
Romans 4:6-8
6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.” NKJV
Who is this promise for? Yet everyone claims it out of context. You can try to explain it, but because you do not fit into what they consider “righteous” they will not listen to you. They like Satan’s ministers who always fit in with the people, but they speak opposite of the faith.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. NKJV
They should have gotten their standard of measurement from the Bible and not the world (1 John 4:5-6). How would you recognize a mature Christian? Would it be because the people speak well of them (Luke 6:26)? Would it be their lack of what you consider sin? Read the following verses and know who the mature are.
Hebrews 5:9-14
9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” 11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. NKJV
The “full age” or the “mature,” are skilled in, or know about righteousness to the point of explaining it, and those who cannot are still babies. I didn’t write that explanation, but I’m just showing you what is written in case you decide to make a right judgment and live by faith.
In the Gospel the righteousness of God is revealed according to Romans 1:16-17. It’s a part of the Gospel message. Therefore, all of us should know about righteousness since it is a part of the Gospel, especially if we have been in church for any length of time. The Gospel is the power unto salvation, so surely we have heard it.
Romans 1:16-17
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” NKJV
How can someone who cannot explain righteousness preach the Gospel? Is Romans 10:9 the beginning and end of the Gospel? When was the scripture fulfilled concerning Abraham’s faith according to James 2:20-24, and should we pursue a different faith (Galatians 3:8, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:22)? So how is it that people believe the “Gospel of their salvation” and have been sealed according to Ephesians 1:13 when they haven’t even heard the Gospel according to the Bible preached, and they speak in direct opposition of it? Can they be sealed? Would you bet your life on it without checking?
Like I have said many times before, get your Bible out daily and read at least five chapters out loud so that you can hear it in your ears. Allow what you hear to tell you what to believe. Don’t fight against it, but just accept and believe what it says. Don’t listen to people who try to explain the verses away with philosophy (Colossians 2:8). Just believe what you hear point, blank, period. Imagine this. Before God wrote the Bible, He knew you and that is all He left for you to know. Learn it!
If you have a question, Lord willing I will answer you in accordance with what is written. I will send the verses with my answer to prove it, and I will do it for free. Remember, hearing and believing is what you are doing, and you are reading the New Testament until the verses are living on the inside of you (the point of retaining them, James 1:21, Romans 1:28-32). Read the following passage over and over until you get it. When you get it come back and tell me you got it! Praise God!
Galatians 3:1-8
3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain — if indeed it was in vain? 5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? — 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. NKJV
I’m Alan Ballou; a servant. If I may be of service to you please contact me. I teach for free.
