Examples of Righteousness

Photo by: aeypix

When God labels a person “righteous, just, upright” He has a reason. Here are some of the biblical people that God calls righteous. Look for common threads:

Abel—By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh (Hebrews 11:4). Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous (1 John 3:12).

Abram (Abraham)—And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3-22).

Noah—Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God (Genesis 6:9).

Job—There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil (Job 1:1, 8; 2:3).

Noah, Daniel, Job—Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness (Ezekiel 14:20).

Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father—Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily (Matthew 1:19).

John the Baptist—For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him (Matthew 21:32). For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly (Mark 6:20).

Cornelius—And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee (Acts 10:22).

The Gentiles who believed—What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith (Romans 9:30).

What were the common factors in their lives?

• Obedience
• Walking with God
• Respect for God (fearing God)
• Believing in the Lord
• Having faith

Consider these concepts:

• Righteousness is a gift. It is given by Jesus to sinful people who receive His gift. 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.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life (Romans 5:17-18).
• Righteousness is a fruit of the Spirit. (It comes from the same root word as “goodness” in Galatians 5:22.) Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God (Philippians 1:11). Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22, also 1 Timothy 6:11).
• Living in the Spirit is borne out in righteous living. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:4). For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth (Ephesians 5:9).
• Righteousness is one of the defensive weapons of faith. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14).
• To be instructed in righteousness, one must be familiar with the Bible. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).

Righteousness. God working in us and our joyful obedience.