Daily Bread - 06/13/07

Romans 6:18 - and the you, having been set free from sin, have become servants of righteousness.

Could any stronger language be used to describe God's will for the manner and behavior of our lives as His saints? God has transformed our lives so that we might enjoy the blessedness of His abundant life. It is absolutely impossible to separate God's life and Spirit from His righteousness.

Righteousness is one of the most important subjects of the Bible. There are approximately 741 occurrences of the word in the Old And New Testaments combined. In the Old Testament there are two words, which are translated righteous (tzadek and tzadekah). The Hebrew root occurs 508 times in the Old Testament (523 times according to Anchor Bible Dictionary; Righteousness-Old Testament). The primary word,\ which is used for righteousness (dikaiosune from dikaios) is found 91 times in the New Testament. The Greek root (dikaio-) is found 233 times in the New Testament. The quintessence of righteousness in the Old Testament is encapsulated in who God is: "Yahweh is righteous in all of His ways and holy in all of His works" (Psalms 145:17).

The concrete meaning for righteousness in the New Testament is shaped by the way it was used in the Old Testament. Primarily the meaning is derived from the character of God and the description of His ways. Other examples are verses and context common to the Old and New Testament; some examples are: Genesis 15:6 found in Romans 4:3-22; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23; Psalms 112:3 found in 2 Corinthians 9:9; Psalms 45:7 found in Hebrews 1:9). There are Old Testament associations of the word for righteousness in Acts 17:31 with Psalms 9:8; 96:10; 98:9; 2 Corinthians 9:9 with Hosea 10:12; Ephesians 6:14 with Isaiah 59:17; 11:5; Revelation 19:11 with Psalms 96:13. In the Old Testament righteousness/righteous is used of God (Psalms 7:9; 116:5; 119:37-40; 144; Ezra 9:15; Isaiah 24:16) of His acts (Judges 5:11; 1 Samuel 12:7; Psalms 145:7); of God's people in general (Genesis 18:23-28; Psalms 68:3; Proverbs 21:21; Isaiah 5:23; Ezekiel 3:20; Malachi 3:18) of individuals such as Noah, Job, and Daniel (Genesis 6:9; 7:1; Job 1:1; 2:3; Ezekiel 14:14,20).

In the New Testament, righteousness and justification are interchangeable. In fact, when either the Hebrew root or the Greek 'dikaioun' are used they can equally be translated "just, justice/justification, justify" from the Latin, or "right, righteous(ness)," (Anchor Bible Dictionary; Righteousness- Greco-Roman World). Righteousness/righteous is used of God the Father (John 17:25); of Jesus (Acts 3:14; 7:52; 1 John 2:1) of the saints in general (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; James 5:16; Hebrews 10:38; 1 John 3:7; 1 Peter 3:12); as the result of redemption (Romans 5:17, 19; 3:22; 6:18; 8:10; 9:30; 10:4; 14:17, 4:25; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 4:24; Philippians 3:9) of individuals such as Joseph (Matthew 1:19); of Zacharias and Elisabeth (Luke 1:6); of Simeon (Luke 2:25) of Joseph a member of the council (Luke 23:50) as a category of people (Matthew 5:45; 9:13;10:4113:17,43,49; 25:37,46; Luke 1:17; 14:14; Acts 24:15; 2 Corinthians 6:14) of Old Testament saints (Matthew 23:29, 35; Hebrews 11:4).

In the New Testament we are commanded to pursue righteousness (Matthew 6:33; 1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:22). We are called to be the servants of righteousness and to live righteously (Romans 6:18, 19; 1 Peter 2:24; Titus 1:8; 2:12; 2 Corinthians 6:7; 9:10; Romans 1:17; Ephesians 4:24, 6:14; Philippians 1:11). The New Testament is the Gospel of righteousness and ministry of righteousness (2 Corinthians 3:9; Romans 5:18; 14:17; Ephesians 4:24; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21).

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org