Living Unto Righteousness (Part 2)

by J.H. Johnson, Kilmarnock, Scotland | Category: Living Unto Righteousness | Apr 1989

Righteousness and Goodness

In Romans 5:7 a distinction is made between a righteous man and a good man. "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: for peradventure for the good man some one would even dare to die".

In this context the righteous man is the man who does the right thing, who is scrupulously correct. He pays his debts, he doesn't pilfer his employer's goods, won't break the rules, even when it seems to others unimportant to observe them. This is the righteous man without grace (in this context).

The good man, on the other hand, is the person who is generous in his dealings with others, who, while recognizing the rights of others, does not always insist on his own rights, doesn't hold grudges.

Christ was not righteous in the narrow sense of Romans 5:7. His righteousness included doing good and to His disciples He said:

Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of Heaven (Mat. 5:20).

The righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees was concerned with a rigid observance of the traditions of the elders which made void the word of God. It led to wrong interpretations of the Scriptures, for example, regarding the Sabbath, and of course to wrong thoughts about God - "with the perverse Thou wilt shew Thyself forward" (Ps. 18:26). Those who twist the Scriptures will get twisted thoughts about God. And wrong thoughts about God and hardness of heart go together, as seen in the story of the man with the withered hand (Mark 3). The Lord "looked round about on them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their heart". Hard hearts led them to take counsel together how they might destroy Him. Hard hearts led them to contemplate and plot the murder of the Son of God.

Hard hearts! Something to which all of us are so prone. Something to be on our guard against - that by the grace of God we shall not become hard-hearted because of what others say or do to us, and more importantly, that we shall not be the cause of someone else becoming hard in heart. The effect can be the life-long destruction of spiritual joy. "Today if ye shall hear His voice, harden not your hearts" is spoken to us, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Should it happen, let us take it to the Lord in prayer, ask for forgiveness for feeling hard. Ask for cleansing by the blood of Jesus. Ask for grace to think right and gracious thoughts towards the one whose remarks or attitude were unchristian.

The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was in the nature of a publicity campaign. "See how righteous I am - I pray, I fast, I give etc." It is a righteousness performed before men, a righteousness which produced feelings of pride and envy - hateful things in the sight of God. Our righteousness must exceed that. How moderate the language of the Lord! Avoid excessive, extravagant language. Say "Yes" and keep your word. Say "No" and mean it. We do our righteousness in secret and God sees and He rewards.

The Righteousness of Christ

The righteousness of Christ is something glorious. It is like Joseph's fruitful bough which goes over the wall. It reaches out and does good. It blesses. It brings joy and gladness to God and to men. "Greater joy have I none than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth" says John (3 John v.7).

The Lord went about doing good. He stretched out His hand and touched the man full of leprosy and healed him. He stopped the funeral procession and gave the young man back to his mother because he had compassion on her. He healed a demon-possessed boy and gave him back to his father. He cast out a legion of demons from a demented man who lived among the tombs and restored him to his right mind. He stood still on the way to Jerusalem and the cross, stood still at the cry for mercy from a blind man and restored his sight. Stood still at a cry for mercy, for He could not go on, for He delights in mercy. On the cross He prays, "Father forgive them; for they know not what they do" and to the reviling, abusive, but now repentant thief, He says, "Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43).

Oh, what a Saviour that He died for me.'

We follow a Man who was righteous and who hated iniquity, hated sin and evil doing, but whose righteousness included doing good, being compassionate, showing mercy. By the grace of God, and only by His grace, and with the help of the Spirit of grace we follow His steps. He has left us an Example. On the night before the cross He took a towel and a basin and washed the disciples' feet. "I have given you an example", He said. How much we need to learn this lesson in humility; being prepared to do the menial tasks, the jobs nobody else wants to do.

Goodness, compassion, mercy, humility, being tenderhearted - there is so much in the righteousness of Christ. So much in living for righteousness. So much to rejoice our hearts.

J.H. Johnson, Kilmarnock, Scotland | Apr 1989
Living Unto Righteousness