Attribute of God – Righteous
- Far more than doing right or being upright in a moral sense , though it is obviously intended
- God is known for what He is by what he does
In the Bible Gods righteousness is seen to be:
(1) Unique
Is 45:24 "They will say of Me, 'Only in the LORD are righteousness and strength.' Men will come to Him, And all who were angry at Him will be put to shame.
Ps 143:2 And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no man living is righteous.
(2) Consistent
Ps 145:17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways And kind in all His deeds.
(3) Dependable
“Like the mountain of God” Ps 36:6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are {like} a great deep. O LORD, You preserve man and beast.
Ps 111:3 Splendid and majestic is His work, And His righteousness endures forever.
Is 51:6-8 "Lift up your eyes to the sky, Then look to the earth beneath; For the sky will vanish like smoke, And the earth will wear out like a garment And its inhabitants will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not wane. "Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, A people in whose heart is My law; Do not fear the reproach of man, Nor be dismayed at their revilings. "For the moth will eat them like a garment, And the grub will eat them like wool. But My righteousness will be forever, And My salvation to all generations."
For more read Genesis 18:25, Psalm 19:7-9, Jeremiah 9:24
Moreover God is righteousness in
(a) Saving activity
Mic 6:5 "My people, remember now What Balak king of Moab counseled And what Balaam son of Beor answered him, {And} from Shittim to Gilgal, So that you might know the righteous acts of the LORD."
Is 41:10 'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'
Is 45:13 "I have aroused him in righteousness And I will make all his ways smooth; He will build My city and will let My exiles go free, Without any payment or reward," says the LORD of hosts.
Is 46:13 "I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off; And My salvation will not delay. And I will grant salvation in Zion, {And} My glory for Israel.
Is 51:15 "For I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea and its waves roar (the LORD of hosts is His name).
Is 56:1 Thus says the LORD, "Preserve justice and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come And My righteousness to be revealed.
The New Testament doctrine of salvation has to be seen against this rich Old Testament background
Rom 3:25-26 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. {This was} to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, {I say,} of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Rom 10:3 For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
1 Cor 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
2 Cor 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin {to be} sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
(b) Promises
Neh 9:8 "You found his heart faithful before You, And made a covenant with him To give {him} the land of the Canaanite, Of the Hittite and the Amorite, Of the Perizzite, the Jebusite and the Girgashite-- To give {it} to his descendants. And You have fulfilled Your promise, For You are righteous.
Ps 119:123 My eyes fail {with longing} for Your salvation And for Your righteous word.
(c) Ordinances
Ps 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
(d) Testimonies
Ps 119:138 You have commanded Your testimonies in righteousness And exceeding faithfulness.
(e) Laws
Ps 119:142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth.
Deut 4:8 "Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today?
(f) Commandments
Ps 119:172 Let my tongue sing of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness.
(g) Direction
Ps 23:3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
Ps 5:8 O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes; Make Your way straight before me.
(h) Justice
2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
