RIGHTEOUSNESS: The Strength of Being Blameless

Proverbs 15:9 The LORD detests the way of the wicked, 

but He loves those who pursue righteousness.

The word “righteous” is written at least 558 times in the Bible, so we can see that it is an extremely important matter.

Romans 3:23-25 ...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins

The Righteousness of God “by Grace through Faith” has 2 forms

Gen. 15:6 "Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him Righteousness.”

The word “Believe” is essential for both forms.

1. Imputed Righteousness called Justification: by Grace

Righteousness as a “status”, not a quality of religious/moral perfection.

This righteousness “is a righteousness that we receive from God.” it means we are in a right relationship with God when we simply receive the imputed obedience of Christ and the forgiveness of sins through faith.

Romans 5:18-19 “Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”

 

2. Applied Righteousness called Santification: through Faith

Righteousness as an “Act of Faith” (Trust and Obey).

This righteousness is an act of trust and obedience that, by faith (See Faith Session), is put forth in our day-to-day relationship with the Holy Spirit. To live Coram Deo is to live one’s entire life being aware of the presence of God, submitting to His guidance, all for the glory of God and His Kingdom. This is what it means to “Walk in the Spirit”.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work* of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.” *present, future continuous tense

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” –

Titus 2:14 “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous for good works.” –

Phil. 1:6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

These two forms of Righteousness are reflected in the “Complete Gospel” by the words “Savior” and “Lord”.

• The Gospel of “Salvation” and the Gospel of the "Kingdom", which Jesus preached and and demonstrated, make up the Complete Gospel. Gospel means "Good News".

“You are saved (2Timothy 1:9). You are being Saved (1Corinthians 1:18). You will be saved (Romans 5:9-10)”*

 

The Strength of Being Blameless.

BLAMELESS: /ˈblāmlis/    adjective: innocent of wrongdoing. Knowing no accusation is true. Being free of guilt. Allows the possibility of being regret-free.

Caution: Guilt is a function of the spirit. You can "reason" (Mind) away your sin, but guilt remains.

2 Chronicles 16:9 (RSV) For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show his might on behalf of those whose heart is blameless toward him.

2 Samuel 23-25 (RSV) For all his ordinances were before me, and from his statutes, I did not turn aside. 24 I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from guilt. 25 Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.

Psalm 119:2–3. Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, 3. who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!

Psalms 15:2 He who walks blamelessly does what is right, and speaks truth in his heart;

Philippians 2:15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world

Philippians 1:10 so that you may be men of transparent character, and maybe blameless, in preparation for the day of Christ,

Proverbs 28:10 Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he will fall into his own trap; but the blameless will inherit good.

Proverbs 11:20 Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.

WE CAN ONLY BE BLAMELESS IF AND WHEN WE ARE WALKING BY FAITH AND BEING SPIRIT-LED

*Further study

Excerpt From https://www.hillsbiblechurch.org/theology-the-bible/the-three-tenses-of-salvation/

Salvation is exclusively found in the only One who can save, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 4:12). There is only one salvation and one way in which it can be received (cf. John 14:6). When it comes to this salvation, we need to understand it as it is presented in Scripture – Salvation in three tenses; past, present, and future.

Past: Saved from the Penalty of Sin (Justification)

When people speak of salvation in Christ, this is the primary aspect of salvation that they refer to. In his letter to the Ephesians Paul said, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8, cf. 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 3:5). Here we see salvation in the past tense (“have been saved“). This refers to the once and for all work in which God delivers a sinner from the penalty of sin. The basis of this deliverance is God’s grace (Eph. 2:8), purpose (2 Tim. 1:9) and mercy (Titus 3:5). The means in which we take hold of it is not works or deeds, but faith in Jesus Christ. If you are a Christian, know that you have been saved from the penalty of sin, justified.

Present: Being Saved from the Power of Sin (Sanctification)

The Christian’s salvation does not end with past deliverance from sin’s penalty. In addition to this past reality of deliverance, the Scriptures teach that God is also saving us in the present (“being saved” 1 Cor. 1:18; 2 Cor. 2:15). This second aspect of salvation is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in delivering God’s people from the power of sin. We call this work sanctification. Child of God, know and understand that you are being saved from the power of sin.

Future: Will be Saved from the Presence of Sin (Glorification)

The final aspect of salvation fills us with hope and anticipation. It promises that when God saves, He will one day deliver them from the presence of sin (Rom. 5:9-10; Rom. 13:11). The writer to the Hebrews stated, “so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him” (Heb. 9:28). What we are now is not what we will be, and this hope ought to drive us to the pursuit of holiness (cf. 1 John 3:2-3).

After considering the “three tenses of salvation”, I want to be clear, there is only one salvation, but this salvation consists of three parts and they are inseparable. It is a salvation that originated in eternity past and is consummated in eternity future. Paul sums it up well when he writes…

Rom. 8:28-30 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified”