Righteousness and Holiness

Below is but a small measure of revelation that my father had received from the Lord. I hope this will be a blessing to you. All that is written below are the words of my father.

Righteousness 

In loving memory of my father
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023

By definition, righteousness is the state of being right with God or just. The man who is righteous is the man who is in a right relationship with God and whose life shows it. The Jews had sought to solve the problem of righteousness by strict obedience to the law. Paul had tried that way himself, and it had resulted in frustration and defeat, because no man on earth can ever fully obey the law. The law lays down what man must do; the gospel lays down what God has done. The trouble with law has always been that it can diagnose the trouble but it cannot affect a cure. Law shows man where he has gone wrong but does not help him to AVOID going wrong. Once more we see that man's attempt to attain to righteousness is completely inadequate.

All of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Romans 3:10

The supreme problem of life is,"How can a man get into a right relationship with God?" Here we see the simplicity of the gospel ... the simplicity that is in Christ. For the Lord Himself is our righteousness. Only the Lord Jesus Christ is righteous in the eyes of the Father. The important thing is NOT what we can do for God, but what God has done for us and is doing for us.

5 Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

6 In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is the name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Jeremiah 23:5-6

This word is confirmed by Paul in the New Testament.

But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30

We enter into the righteousness of Christ when we accept by faith Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. In other words the ONLY basis for our righteousness is that we are in Christ.


21 But now, the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

26 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Romans 3:21-26

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Romans 10:4

For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:10



8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God through faith. Philippians 3:8-9

Please note that we are righteous through the faith of Christ, through HIS faith. If we are in Christ, we are righteous because of HIS faith, not because of our faith.

Righteousness is a characteristic which results from our obedience to the faith. The first occurrence of righteousness in scripture is in Genesis, with respect to Noah.

22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

1 And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. Genesis 6:22-7:1

The second occurrence of righteousness relates to Abraham.

And he [Abram] believed in the Lord, and He counted it to him for righteousness.

Genesis 15:6

Here again, if we read the context of what has preceded, Abram had likewise been obedient to the faith. It was much more than just a mental assent. The real Jew is the man who has made the same decision of complete, unconditional yieldedness to God in loving faith which Abraham made. Another scripture which relates obedience to righteousness is,

O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea. Isaiah 48:18

Righteousness is directly related to our Sure Foundation.

As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation. Proverbs 10:25

Righteousness is a quality of the nature of God that should be greatly desired.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

Now what is the result or the effect of righteousness?

And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever. Isaiah 32:17

He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. Matthew 10:41

What is a righteous man's reward? and what is a prophet's reward? To answer that question let us look at a scripture in Romans.

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17

As we have just seen in Isaiah 32:17, the reward of a righteous man is peace. The reward of a prophet is joy in the Holy Ghost. The Lord told Moses,

The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken. Deuteronomy 18:15

All of the priests and Levites knew about this prophecy given to Moses. They knew that a great prophet was to arise. They asked John the Baptist who he was, saying,

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. John 1:21

Jesus Christ, of course, was, and is, that Great Prophet and the ultimate Prophet. He was also characterized by great joy. We also know that

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Finally, righteousness is not only for the present, but also for the future, provided we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end (Hebrews 3:6). Paul told Timothy,

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Holiness

Scripture is quite clear of the relationship of righteousness to holiness.

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

Romans 6:19

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Romans 6:22

True holiness consists in conformity to the nature and will of God. Note that only God is Holy, whence the name Holy Spirit. The word "holy" is applied in scripture to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who is infinitely holy above all creatures. God is the fountain of all holiness and purity. "Holy" means sacred, blameless, consecrated, and pure.

Whenever a word or phrase is repeated two times in the same verse we best pay attention. Whenever a word or phrase is repeated three times in the same verse it is of utmost importance. Only five times in all the Bible do we find a word or phrase repeated three times in the same verse. "I will overturn, overturn, overturn it" in Ezekiel 21:27; "the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord" in Jeremiah 7:4; "O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord" in Jeremiah 22:29; "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts" in Isaiah 6:3; and "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come" in Revelation 4:8. Note that the only three-peat in both the Old and New Testaments is "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord." That clearly emphasizes the great importance of the holiness of the Lord, which is the essence of His character and nature. God is the absolutely Holy One, in His purity, majesty, and glory.

Numerous scriptures, mostly in the Old Testament, speak of the Holy One of Israel.

Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. Isaiah 12:6

So will I make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not let them pollute My name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. Ezekiel 39:7

Even the unclean spirits know about the holiness of Jesus.


23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of Israel.

Mark 1:23-24

We as Christians are called to this same holiness ... the holiness of God. All true believers are called, by His grace, to experience fellowship with God in His holiness. The word, "holy," fundamentally signifies separated from sin and therefore consecrated to God, or sacred. Indeed, under the old covenant, God called on man to be holy. We are called to be sanctified, set apart, saints.

Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord am Holy. Leviticus 19:2

Note that this is a commandment under the old covenant (law) to which no man could attain. But under the new covenant (grace) this word becomes a promise. It is by the holiness of Jesus Christ, and we being found in Him and He in us, that we can be reckoned as being holy.

For God hath not called us to uncleanness, but unto holiness. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Corinthians 7:1

The result of "perfecting holiness in the fear of God" is that we may be found "unblameable in holiness" in the coming of Christ.

To the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

1 Thessalonians 3:13

Our holiness is not of ourselves.

And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? Acts 3:12

Man still has free will. So the Christian must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Jesus. We must CHOOSE to deny our will and say, as did Jesus, "not my will but Thy will be done, oh Lord." Just in case we stray a little bit from time to time, the Lord has provided ways for us to get back into His will.


9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the father of spirits, and live?

10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness. Hebrews 12:9-10

Therefore,

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

Hebrews 12:14

The word "see" in Verse 14 is the Greek optanomai, which means "to gaze with wide-open eyes, as something remarkable." Indeed, the Lord is Remarkable!