South Florida Lectureship 2009. Introduction Defining “Righteousness” –“the character or quality of being right or just” –it was formerly spelled “rightwiseness”

South Florida Lectureship South Florida Lectureship 20092009

South Florida Lectureship South Florida Lectureship 20092009

IntroductionIntroduction

• Defining “Righteousness”– “the character or quality of being

right or just”– it was formerly spelled

“rightwiseness”• Defining “Whose Righteousness”

– Ezekiel 33:12-20– Psalm 119:172, 142– Romans 10:3– Luke 1:6– 2 Timothy 3:16

We Must ATTAIN We Must ATTAIN RighteousnessRighteousness

• God’s Standard/Level/Expectation– Must exceed scribes/Pharisees – Mt.

5:20 Scribes & Pharisees were religious:

– Worshiped habitually – Matt. 15:8-9 – Prayed regularly – Matt. 23:14; 6:5, 7– Evangelized enthusiastically – Matt. 23:15– Gave liberally – Matt. 23:23– Outwardly appeared ® – Matt. 23:28

BUT, they were hypocritical, loved the praise of men, and their heart was absent.

Our ® must be more than merely outward

– Simply – “His righteousness” – Mt. 6:33

We Must ATTAIN We Must ATTAIN RighteousnessRighteousness

• Why must we ATTAIN righteousness?– Psalm 11:7

“The LORD is righteous… “He loves righteousness… “His countenance beholds the upright.”

We Must MAINTAIN We Must MAINTAIN RighteousnessRighteousness

• God’s Standard/Level/Expectation– Righteousness is a lifestyle

“…For the ways of the LORD are right; The righteous walk in them…” – Hosea 14:9

“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness…” – 1 Peter 2:24

“He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.” – 1 John 3:7

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…” – Matthew 5:6

“…Be careful to maintain good works…also learn to maintain good works…” – Tit. 3:8, 14

We Must MAINTAIN We Must MAINTAIN RighteousnessRighteousness

• Why must we MAINTAIN Righteousness?– Acts 10:35

“But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”

– Psalm 151. LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who

may dwell in Your holy hill?2. He who walks uprightly, And works

righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart;

3. He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;

4. In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

5. He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

We Must ABOUND INWe Must ABOUND INRighteousnessRighteousness

• Word “ABOUND” used of God:– “Abounding in goodness and truth” – Ex.

34:6– “Abounding in mercy” – Psa. 103:8– “Grace of God and the gift by the grace…

abounded to many” – Rom. 15:5– “Consolation also abounds through Christ”

– 2 Cor. 1:5– “Able to make all grace abound toward

you” – 2 Cor. 9:8– “The riches of His grace which He made to

abound toward us” – Eph. 1:7-8– What if God attained and then stopped?– What if God just maintained?


• God ABOUNDS & Expects Us to ABOUND– “You abound in everything” – 2 Cor.

8:7– “Abounding in [the faith]” – Col. 2:7– “Abound more and more…to walk

and to please God” – 1 Thess. 4:1


• God’s Standard/Level/Expectation– ABOUND in faith – 2 Cor. 8:7– ABOUND in speech – 2 Cor. 8:7– ABOUND in knowledge – 2 Cor. 8:7– ABOUND in all diligence – 2 Cor. 8:7– ABOUND in sacrificial giving – 2 Cor. 8:2-7– ABOUND in love – Phil. 1:9; 1 Th. 3:12; 2 Th. 1:3– ABOUND in hope – Rom. 15:13– ABOUND in the work of the Lord – 1 Cor. 15:58– ABOUND in virtue/moral courage – 2 Pet. 1:5– ABOUND in self-control – 2 Pet. 1:6– ABOUND in perseverance – 2 Pet. 1:6– ABOUND in godliness – 2 Pet. 1:6– ABOUND in brotherly kindness – 2 Pet. 1:7


• The Attitude of Some– “Do only what is necessary.”– “Do enough just to get by.”– “What is the least I have to do?”– “What is the minimum requirement?”– “Do I really have to do that?”– They have gone about to establish

THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS!• The Attitude of the Righteous

– I WILL ABOUND!!!


• Why must we ABOUND IN righteousness?– 2 Peter 1:8-11

To be USEFUL to God (“neither barren”) To be FRUITFUL for God (“nor unfruitful”) To be FAITHFUL to God (“will never

stumble”) To be SUPPLIED an ENTRANCE ABUNDANTLY

into the EVERLASTING KINGDOM of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

– 1 Peter 4:17-18 “The righteous is scarcely saved”

Documents

South Florida Lectureship 2009. Introduction Defining “Righteousness” –“the character or quality of being right or just” –it was formerly spelled “rightwiseness”