Righteousness Lived

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. (Romans 6:18 NIV)

Sometimes when God talks about righteousness, it is not talking about a gift.  Sometimes, Scripture is not talking about a gift given but about a life lived.  It's talking about us really living a life of righteousness.

"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' "'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. "Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. (Matthew 21:28-32 NIV)

The Pharisees in this passage were chastised by Jesus because they knew how to live a life of righteousness, but they didn't.  They knew better, but they chose not to walk together with God.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. (Matthew 23:27-28 NIV)

True righteousness is not about looking good.  It's about being good.  It's about choosing what is good and right to do or say in all circumstances.  It's even choosing to throw away thoughts that are not right-thinking with God.

If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:6-10 NIV)

Whenever we sin, we are living out a moment of unrighteousness.  God is willing to make that right if we will recognize it, admit it, and change it in repentance.  We cannot keep living a life of unrighteousness and hope that God will give us the righteousness as a gift.  We only get that when we walk in the light, turning back to Him again.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation--but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. (Romans 8:5-14 NIV)

This is what walking by the Spirit looks like.  We follow God's Word both in Scripture and through His Spirit.  We don't just hear the word, but we do the word as well.  When we recognize a place where we sin, we recognize it, admit it, and turn back to God to get rid of it.  God takes care of the rest.

You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. (James 2:24 NIV)

Righteousness given is very closely related to righteousness lived.  We are forgiven by God through righteousness given.  We walk with God as righteousness is lived in our lives.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, (Ephesians 6:14 NIV)

Sometimes living a life of righteousness is a battle.  It's like going to war.  We need to put on our armor before we go into our day.  It's worth the work, though, because there is no better life than one lived walking together with God.

For, "In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay." And, "But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back." But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. (Hebrews 10:37-39 NIV)

We cannot shrink back from the gift of God by choosing not to walk with God.  The results would be disastrous.  No, we should be striving to live a life that is more and more righteous.  We should be living a life that is walking together with God.

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:31-33 NIV)

Seeking his righteousness means choosing to walk together with God.  Seeking his kingdom means working to empower one more.  God provides everything we need to accomplish these two designs for our lives.

And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him. (1 John 2:28-29 NIV)

People recognize when we are walking together with God.  They can tell when someone is a whitewashed tomb.  They can also tell when they are truly righteous.

How about you?  Are you just hoping for righteousness the gift or are you really striving for righteousness lived?  Are you choosing to walk together with God?