Righteousness | God Blog

It is not enough to be delivered from sin; it is enough to be delivered to righteousness.
- Edwin Louis Cole

Righteousness

Many of modern Christianity's major difficulties may be attributed to ignorance or even purposeful misunderstanding of Biblical righteousness. In part this arises from the fact there are two kinds of righteousness taught and required by Scripture. Positional and conditional.

More problematic still is our continual practice of minimizing, if not entirely overlooking the tentative physical and spiritual nature and context of human life. Up to and including the sobering fact that Scripture repeatedly asserts and reinforces the fact that we are far from alone.

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

- James 2:18-19 NIV

By way of introduction to the subject of righteousness, an all important yet often ignored issue needs be introduced.

One of modern society's greatest understatement's is the phrase "We are not alone." In fact, it may well be said the full context of Scripture goes so far as to demonstrate that advanced life on modern earth, not to mention perhaps the creation of our entire universe, is primarily to bring a "speedy" end to evil in the spiritual realm. The Luciferian rebellion of unimaginably ancient, advanced and glories angels in eternity's Third Heaven.

Best demonstrated in my biblical-faction novel "Eternity... The Wager" all human history, if not every human being, has and is being devilishly influenced and/or manipulated by ancient, advanced spiritual beings as revealed throughout the New Testament. The apostle Paul succinctly explains:

"And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out."(Ephesians 6:10-18 MSG)

As if the notion, much less reality of rightly comprehending and wrestling against ancient and malevolent unseen "rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" we're not enough, further complicating matters is the fact that scripture reveals our need of two kinds of righteousness equally important to the campaign for mankind's salvation:

1. Positional Righteousness: The all important righteousness that can only be imputed by Christ through His costly atonement (see GodBlog article). This righteousness is thoroughly explain and appreciated even by churchianity, though its claims on the lifestyles and very lives of Christians needs much clarification.

2. Conditional Righteousness: Of eternal importance to each individual, this righteousness concerns itself with our thoughts and attitudes, words and deeds in regard to ourselves, others and ultimately God.

Since Christ's atonement is a finished and largely well-documented work, we will concern ourselves with the latter form of conditional righteousness about which Paul instructs each of us to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling." While over 100 GB articles directly and indirectly address this topic, the following may be particularly helpful.

Articles on Righteousness

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