Righteousness

[brakelite]

Whatever righteousness is, it comes highly recommended.

Mt 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Mt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

First point we must all realise, is that the 'righteousness', referred to above is Christ's own righteousness. Not our own, not someone else's, not the church's. Isaiah said our own righteousness is worthless, so what we must answer is the question "what is Christ's righteousness?" For it is that righteousness that we must hunger and thirst for, it is that righteousness we must seek for on equal priority to His kingdom.
We all, as professing Christians, have accepted Christ's kingdom. We have all acknowledged His propitiation and atoning death. But His righteousness? What is that? And how do we get it?

Paul answers both questions here...
Ga 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

So the Galatians were thinking that they could be justified by following the law, but Paul says it must be by faith. And he equates justification with righteousness. The cross, the shedding of blood, justifies us. Throughout Biblical history the sacrifice of the animal and the shedding of blood removed sin from being as impediment in the relationship and a wall between God and man. We are 'accounted' righteous in the sight of a holy God, and we then have free access to the throne of grace.
But did God desire that Israel continually sin because they had a "get out of jail free card" grazing in the back paddock? Not at all. In fact several times God showed His great displeasure in the rivers of blood that constantly flowed from the temple altar.

Isaiah 1:10 ¶ Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.
11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

What is going on here? It was in Eden that God Himself set up the sacrificial system. And a whole range of various sabbaths and holy days and services and sacrifices for the express purpose of gaining forgiveness, yet here is God saying He wants them to stop? What's missing? Isaiah in the next few verses gives the answer. And after, John the Baptist confirms this.

16 ¶ Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:


Matthew 3:7 ¶ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
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;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.


Righteousness is holiness; likeness to God, and God is love. (1 John 4:16) It is conformity to the law of God, for "all Thy commandments are righteousness" Psalm 119:72, and "love is the fulfilling of the law". Rom. 13:10
Righteousness is love, and love is the true light and life of God. The righteousness of God is embodied in Christ, and we receive righteousness by receiving Him.

2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

It has been said that we take but two things to heaven with us from this world. The souls we have have helped save through our witness, and our characters. Eternity is dependant upon what characters we develop now, whether Christ's or the prince of this world.

Eph.4:17 ¶ This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,....22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Thus righteousness is both imputed, (justification) and imparted (sanctification.) Both are essential, both are Christ's, and both can be ours if we have but faith.

Rom.5:17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Romans 8:1 ¶ There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit...4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

 

[gdemoss]

It was in Eden that God Himself set up the sacrificial system. And a whole range of various sabbaths and holy days and services and sacrifices for the express purpose of gaining forgiveness,

On what authority do you claim these to be true?

 

[brakelite]

On what authority do you claim these to be true?

Genesis 3:21 ¶ Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
This is highly significant...it was the Lord Himself who killed the very first creature in order to cover their nakedness. This is an act that has been repeated throughout human history. We are clothed with the righteousness of God Himself to cover our shame. Later we read of such patriarchs as Noah, Abraham continuing to sacrifice and then of course later Israel with their sanctuary services. Right from Eden ...the foundation of the world...the Lamb was slain.

 

[gdemoss]

Genesis 3:21 ¶ Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
This is highly significant...it was the Lord Himself who killed the very first creature in order to cover their nakedness. This is an act that has been repeated throughout human history. We are clothed with the righteousness of God Himself to cover our shame. Later we read of such patriarchs as Noah, Abraham continuing to sacrifice and then of course later Israel with their sanctuary services. Right from Eden ...the foundation of the world...the Lamb was slain.

It says what? And God declared unto Adam that from this day forth you will sacrifice animal after animal to clothe yourself that ye not be naked. You shall teach this to all of your Generations after you. Make sure that you tailor your clothes perfectly in the fashion that I have made these garments for you. And teach others to do so also.

No, it doesn't. Your adding to the bible.

Originally Posted by brakelite
And a whole range of various sabbaths and holy days and services and sacrifices for the express purpose of gaining forgiveness,

Again, where does it say that God established all of this in Eden?

 

[brakelite]

It says what? And God declared unto Adam that from this day forth you will sacrifice animal after animal to clothe yourself that ye not be naked. You shall teach this to all of your Generations after you. Make sure that you tailor your clothes perfectly in the fashion that I have made these garments for you. And teach others to do so also.

No, it doesn't. Your adding to the bible.




Again, where does it say that God established all of this in Eden?

My original statement said....quote:It was in Eden that God Himself set up the sacrificial system....the first ever death of any creature was made on behalf of man, yet because of his transgression. Do you not see any significance in this? Do you not see this as a demonstration of the gospel? Think about the effect such an act would have had on Adam and Eve, They had never witnessed death before. Now, a creature which they no doubt had loved and admired, was no more. And it was their fault. Not only this, but they were wearing a constant reminder of their sin, yet also a reminder of God's grace and forgiveness.God does nothing by accident. This was very much the first example of what the gospel was all about. "Ye shall bruise His heel, but He shall crush thy head".....
And a whole range of various sabbaths and holy days and services and sacrifices for the express purpose of gaining forgiveness....
it was not my intention that this statement was pertaining to Eden, but the focus was intended to be upon the fact that it was God who set it all up, but was at a time later saying He was sick of all the rivers of blood.
Let us not think however that God waited until Sinai to implement the sacrificial system. There were many examples previous too then, including Abel, Noah, and Abraham.

 

[gdemoss]

My original statement said....quote:It was in Eden that God Himself set up the sacrificial system....the first ever death of any creature was made on behalf of man, yet because of his transgression. Do you not see any significance in this? Do you not see this as a demonstration of the gospel? Think about the effect such an act would have had on Adam and Eve, They had never witnessed death before. Now, a creature which they no doubt had loved and admired, was no more. And it was their fault. Not only this, but they were wearing a constant reminder of their sin, yet also a reminder of God's grace and forgiveness.God does nothing by accident. This was very much the first example of what the gospel was all about. "Ye shall bruise His heel, but He shall crush thy head".....
And a whole range of various sabbaths and holy days and services and sacrifices for the express purpose of gaining forgiveness....
it was not my intention that this statement was pertaining to Eden, but the focus was intended to be upon the fact that it was God who set it all up, but was at a time later saying He was sick of all the rivers of blood.
Let us not think however that God waited until Sinai to implement the sacrificial system. There were many examples previous too then, including Abel, Noah, and Abraham.

So the bible says that God choose to kill an animal and you blame Adam and Eve for his decision. Nobody can force Gods hand he is just as responsible for the decisions he makes as we are. Of course, when he does something we know that it was the right thing to do. It says he made coats of skins. It doesn't say what kind of animal they came from or anything like that. There is a lot it doesn't say. What we shouldn't do is try imagining everything that God was saying that he didn't say because a mans imagination is wicked from his youth.

Abel, Noah and Abraham performed their sacrifices for various reasons. Abel obviously was told the word of God and believed it. It is how he knew to make an acceptable sacrifice. It says Noah sacrificed but says nothing about why. And Abraham made dinner for the Lord and two angels. Reading into the bible is dangerous as it always changes the meaning of the text. If I am supposed to know something, God has put it in his word. Now there is always the possibility that I haven't found it yet like the rest of the hidden manna. If things can be shown to me without having to see something that isn't really there I am all for it.

Peace,

Gary

 

[brakelite]

So the bible says that God choose to kill an animal and you blame Adam and Eve for his decision.

Yes, just as I accept responsibility for my transgression that resulted in Calvary.

Isaac was well aware what a sacrificial offering was....he obviously learned this from his father, who in turn learned it from....who GD?

Ge 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

Like I said, the very first animal sacrificed was in Eden and was on behalf of man in order to clothe him to cover his nakedness caused by sin. And it was God Himself who took that life, just as it was Jesus Himself who gave His life ...no-one took His life from Him...He gave it on behalf of man because of sin. Anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that this was a practice that was instructed to be handed down from generation to generation until after the exodus when the entire nation adopted it as a corporate practice. That is Biblical.

Re 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

You seem so strict on yourself not to accept anything that is unbiblical, and rightly so if you are founding a doctrine on it especially. Might I suggest on that basis you revisit eternal torment and the abolition of the Sabbath issues?

 

[jari]

It has been said that we take but two things to heaven with us from this world. The souls we have have helped save through our witness, and our characters. Eternity is dependant upon what characters we develop now, whether Christ's or the prince of this world.

not true according to Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

[gdemoss]

Yes, just as I accept responsibility for my transgression that resulted in Calvary.

First, I agree with you that Sacrificial Offerings appear to have been taught to at least certain persons. The evidence is sparse an inconclusive so far as I see. I am open to hearing more about them. How much is spoken of Jacob or His children offering sacrificial offerings? Before or after going down to Egypt? It isn't something I have time to devote study to right now as my plate is full. I'll admit I need to be better studied in the area. It is a new trail to follow.

As for you being the one who is responsible for 'Calvary', would Christ convict you of such an offense? If there was a hearing brought to trial to prove who's was at fault for Christ dying on Calvary, would you be found guilty? I don't thinks so. God judges righteously. I am not to blame for what Christ chooses to do or else maybe I should boast a little about the power I have over Christ to bring him down from above?

Consider this: I punch my wife in the face and break out her teeth. She in turn slits my throat in the middle of the night while I sleep. We both end up at the judgement seat of Christ. Am I found guilty of causing her to murder me?

What would Jesus say?

I know you know the answer. She will be convicted as an evil doer for her own decisions she made. Christ was provoked yet did not give in to the provocation as is just and right. We are held up to that standard of judgement. Every man shall bear his own burden. It is Christs fault he ended up on Calvary, he chose to do it out of Love. Thank God he is such a better person than I.

With Genuine Love,

Gary

 

[micolr]

Umm, Moses brought the Law down from the mountain, at which point the people were given understanding of their sin and God's perfect law. God did not initiate any ceremonies, sacrifices, or religious duties in Eden, He simply threw Adam and Eve out of Eden.

The Law was fleshed out by the priestly tribe of Levi(Aaron), whereby Israel was given understanding of sacrifices and ordinances required by God. Long after Eden.

 

[JonahofAkron]

Umm, Moses brought the Law down from the mountain, at which point the people were given understanding of their sin and God's perfect law. God did not initiate any ceremonies, sacrifices, or religious duties in Eden, He simply threw Adam and Eve out of Eden.

The Law was fleshed out by the priestly tribe of Levi(Aaron), whereby Israel was given understanding of sacrifices and ordinances required by God. Long after Eden.

The author of Hebrews states that the only change in the Law with The New Covenant is the priesthood....I wonder if that means the same thing could have happened before the Sinai Covenant.

 

[jari]

Umm, Moses brought the Law down from the mountain, at which point the people were given understanding of their sin and God's perfect law. God did not initiate any ceremonies, sacrifices, or religious duties in Eden, He simply threw Adam and Eve out of Eden.

The Law was fleshed out by the priestly tribe of Levi(Aaron), whereby Israel was given understanding of sacrifices and ordinances required by God. Long after Eden.

well God did kill an animal for their sin.. and made them clothes from it.
because: Heb 9:22
but its symbolical. no other records of people sacraficing for their sins before the law.

 

[agua]

well God did kill an animal for their sin.. and made them clothes from it.
because: Heb 9:22
but its symbolical. no other records of people sacraficing for their sins before the law.

As brakelight mentioned earlier animal sacrifice existed well before Moses received the law.

Gen 4:4 NKJV Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering,


Gen 22:13 NKJV Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

Job 1:5 NKJV So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did regularly.

( we assume Job lived before Moses.)

 

[jari]

As brakelight mentioned earlier animal sacrifice existed well before Moses received the law.

Gen 4:4 NKJV Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering,


Gen 22:13 NKJV Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

Job 1:5 NKJV So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did regularly.

( we assume Job lived before Moses.)

I thought we are talking about sin offerings?

those didnt exist until law came, and i believe job was in israel under the law as well.

 

[agua]

I thought we are talking about sin offerings?

those didnt exist until law came, and i believe job was in israel under the law as well.

We have a few clues as to when job lived. We can safely assume it was after Noah's flood imo....

Job 22:15-16 NKJV Will you keep to the old way Which wicked men have trod, (16) Who were cut down before their time, Whose foundations were swept away by a flood?


We can also take note that Job offered up sacrifices to God in similar fashion to Abraham with never a mention of Levitical priesthood, temple etc.

Job gave an inheritance to his daughters, which according to Israelite law/custom ( Numbers 27 ), only occurred in the absence of sons.


Job 42:15 NKJV In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.


Job lived to a ripe old age, well in excess of 140 years, which seems to be too old for the Israelite generation and more inline with Abraham's close ancestors.


Job 42:13-17 NKJV He also had seven sons and three daughters. (14) And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch. (15) In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. (16) After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. (17) So Job died, old and full of days.


He sired 10 children prior to " After this Job lived one hundred and forty years" , and considering his life before his ordeal, likely he was over 200 when he died.


I have gleaned some of this information randomly online but it does appear to place Job well before the Mosaic era.

 

[jari]

We have a few clues as to when job lived. We can safely assume it was after Noah's flood imo....

Job 22:15-16 NKJV Will you keep to the old way Which wicked men have trod, (16) Who were cut down before their time, Whose foundations were swept away by a flood?


We can also take note that Job offered up sacrifices to God in similar fashion to Abraham with never a mention of Levitical priesthood, temple etc.

Job gave an inheritance to his daughters, which according to Israelite law/custom ( Numbers 27 ), only occurred in the absence of sons.


Job 42:15 NKJV In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.


Job lived to a ripe old age, well in excess of 140 years, which seems to be too old for the Israelite generation and more inline with Abraham's close ancestors.


Job 42:13-17 NKJV He also had seven sons and three daughters. (14) And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch. (15) In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. (16) After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. (17) So Job died, old and full of days.


He sired 10 children prior to " After this Job lived one hundred and forty years" , and considering his life before his ordeal, likely he was over 200 when he died.


I have gleaned some of this information randomly online but it does appear to place Job well before the Mosaic era.

Thanks agua thats fine study there could be right. Still i'm not sure because Job could have acted like this in myopinion in israel as well but memory of the law is bit rusty
he did live very long though
i think half longer than others