WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
February 10, 2008 AM
Sermon Outline
HEB 5:12-14
INTRO: Of what do you think when you hear the word "righteousness"? Does this word bring to your mind a number of possibilities? If so, I would say you are not alone! In fact, as you study this word in the Bible, it may become a little confusing since it does seem to go in several directions. "Righteousness" is, of course, a very important Bible word and subject. And I discovered that one of the ways in which the scriptures are described is "the word of righteousness" (Heb 5:13). If you keep in mind the extensive use exploration and revelation of "righteousness" in the Bible, this expression becomes very appropriate. This morning think with me about several directions in which this expression takes us.
- THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS REVEALS GOD'S RIGHTNESS
- Isa 45:21 - "...a just God and a Savior..."
- God is absolutely right, just and fair
- in all His ways He is consistent with His justness and holiness
- Ezek 18:25-29 - The accusation: He is not fair!
- for ages this has been the assertion of humanity ... God is not fair
- but look at what God says through the prophet
- it is mankind out of spiritual control that makes such a wild assertion!
- truth? God is absolutely righteous, just, fair ... always
- He never "bends the rules" - that's just a fact
- Isa 45:21 - "...a just God and a Savior..."
- THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS REVEALS HIS "EXPECTATIONS"
- Ps 119:138,172 - His commandments are righteousness
- here is another aspect of the use of this word in scripture
- in His absolute fairness God reveals what He expects of humanity
- Rom 1:16,17 - the gospel most assuredly reveals more than the justness of God - it reveals what God requires of us
- Deut 6:24,25 - A definition of righteousness?
- clearly, Moses understood "righteousness" as it applies to mankind
- what God commands is "for our good always" - worth our remembering!
- so, what "shall be our righteousness"? "do all these commandments" - righteousness apart of His commandments is not righteousness
- Rom 10:1-1-3 - Notice the importance of "knowledge" here
- without knowledge of God's righteousness they were "lost" to God
- religious, zealous? yes, but their righteousness could not substitute for the righteousness God reveals and requires
- man's ways cannot and will not replace God's ways
- Acts 10:34,35 - Two prerequisites of pleasing God
- reverence and obedience
- "righteousness" here is vastly more than good works, morality, sincerity
- to please God requires keeping His commandments from a heart of genuine reverence ... and the word of righteousness informs us of what those commandments are ... so, Acts 10:48 - or, 1 Cor 14:37
- Rom 4:23-25 - Our faith accounted to us for righteousness
- what impels one to obedience? belief in the saving work of Jesus and His resurrection (I like the expression in v. 21"being fully persuaded")
- but faith comes via the word of righteousness (Rom 10:17)
- and faith must join with obedience if we are to be declared righteous (so, Rom 6:17,18)
- Ps 119:138,172 - His commandments are righteousness
- THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND THE JUDGMENT
- Ps 96:13 - The psalmist declared the ultimate judgment of God
- but notice "with righteousness" - here we see again the justice of God
- no fear of any inequality or bending of the rules - justice
- but notice, too, "judge...the people with his truth" - once again the word of righteousness comes into view (so, Jno 12:48,49)
- Mt 7:21-23 - A picture of the judgment
- why were these evidently good people rejected?
- could they claim that God was unfair ... His ways "unequal"?
- we see here the absolute consistency of God in judgment ... they word of righteousness had apparently been ignored, there was no obedience (recall Rom 10:1-3)
- Ps 96:13 - The psalmist declared the ultimate judgment of God
CLOSE: You and I will one day arrive at the great judgment of God. To meet our righteous God without having been concerned about the word of righteousness will make the meeting most unenjoyable for us. Have you conformed, are you conforming your life to the word of righteousness?
Cecil A. Hutson
10 February 2008