This is a very valuable question to consider as the dangers between using liberty as an occasion to the flesh and the establishing of one’s own righteousness are very real threats to making shipwreck concerning one’s faith. It is compounded by the tendency to compare ourselves to each other. Paul stated in 2 Cor.10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
The bible teaches that we are declared righteous, in a positional sense and made righteous in a practical sense, both through the death and resurrection of Christ. We also consider there is the Righteousness of God (Rom. 10:3) as one thing, and the righteousness of the saints as another (Rev. 19:8 which is what we are rewarded for in the resurrection), and also our own righteousness in the flesh as yet another. (Rom.10:3, Phil 3:9, Isa.64:6) The concept of righteousness is generally used as the quality of being just, as in to conform to divine moral norms. That is having one's thoughts and actions manifest proper motives according to proper standards; to embody or incarnate divine principles. True righteousness includes the thoughts and intentions as one might outwardly conform yet inwardly rebel, such was the righteousness of the Pharisees. Jesus states: For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Mt.5:20) They “also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within... are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” (Mt.23:28) This is not true righteousness; true righteousness isn’t only outward conformity but inward purity.
Regarding the righteousness of God in his divine nature it is spirit; that is the righteousness of God is his nature as Spirit (Jn.4:24, 2 Pt.1:4). Before God manifested any works within time, God’s divine nature is righteous. We need to partake of the divine nature of God and thus his righteousness practically and this is done through his word (2 Pt.1:3-4, 2 Cor.7:1). “For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness”. (Psa.11:7) God implants his word in us through the gospel of Christ and his Spirit is imparted to us; thus is the new birth. With the heart we believe unto righteousness. (Rom.10:10) So, we will next consider in more detail these ideas of being declared righteous and being made righteous. This is necessary in order to address the question regarding how righteous one should be at any given moment in their lives.
JUSTIFICATION
Justification, in the biblical usage, has at least 2 meanings, to declare righteous and to make righteous. To declare someone righteous, who is already righteous is the definition of justification in these passages:
Exodus 23:7 God says "I will not justify the wicked". A man that is guilty will not at all be acquitted (Nah.1:3). God will not declare that he is innocent while he is guilty. That is an abomination unto God, "He that justifieth the wicked and condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD" (Prov.17:15) “He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:” (Prov.24:24)
Deut. 25:1 When men came before the judges in a controversy, the judges were commanded by God to "justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked". Now the righteous man, was righteous before he came to the judges, and likewise the wicked man was wicked. The judges’ declaration did nothing for the righteous man as far as adding to his righteousness, they simply declared what already was. And likewise with the wicked man, their condemnation of him did not make him wicked, he already was wicked. (1 Ki.8:32, 2 Chr.6:23)
Matthew 12:33-37 Now a man that is righteous, is righteous before he does anything! His actions declare his condition. He does not become righteous by doing certain deeds, he does certain deeds because he is righteous. Jesus said a "good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things." The man was known by his works, they revealed his heart. (v33) A hypocrite can do outward deeds of righteousness while his heart is wicked (Matt.23:5,25). Therefore, he says in vs.37 concerning the day of judgment (v36) "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." When we stand before Christ as judge (Acts 17:31), we will either be righteous or wicked, and he will try each work and declare what it is already, and also what we are. He will not declare us righteous when we are wicked, nor will he declare us wicked when we are righteous; he that is unjust will be unjust still, and he that is righteous will be righteous still (Rev.22:11).
Luke 7:29-30 Here God is said to be justified (as Romans 3:4), by those who were baptized by John's baptism. By them believing God sent John, they submitted unto his baptism. By their being baptized they declared God is just, if he says we need to be baptized of John, we declare he is right by submitting. God obviously is not made righteous, he doesn’t change (Mal.3:6), but he is declared to be righteous by us. We realize God is right. This is also the sense of wisdom being "justified of her children" Mat.11:19. Declared righteous.
Romans 2:13-14 Looking at the law of God (being in context the law of Moses Jn 7:19) Paul states that the Jews who had the law of Moses and heard it were not justified (made righteous or declared righteous) simply because they heard it. Whereas a Gentile who did not have the law of Moses, yet had a conscience and a heart which bore witness to what was right and what was wrong (v15), could be justified in the day of judgment (v16). Notice vs.13 "the doers of the law shall be justified", that is the ones who are doing righteous deeds shall be the ones declared righteous in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ (v16). They do not become righteous by their works, they 'shew' (v15) themselves to be righteous, they 'shew the work of the law written in their hearts'. They "are a law unto themselves" (v14). That is their condition, and they "shall be justified" in the day of judgment.
James 2:18-26 Beginning with Abraham in verse 21, the scripture saith "Was not Abraham our father justified by works". Was he made righteous by his works? Or was he declared to be righteous by his works? Well, no man is made righteous by doing works (Gal.2:16), as we have before proven, a man does righteous works because he is righteous, not because he is wicked, and trying to become righteous (1 Jn 3:7) or feign righteousness as the hypocrites. Verse 23 shows that the scripture was fulfilled where Abraham had been made righteous, by the evidence of his works. Abraham had served God since he was 75 years old (Gen. 12:4), he received a son when he was "about an hundred years old" (Rom. 4:19), and now in the passage in James he is offering up Isaac years later. Abraham did not become righteous by offering up Isaac, he was imputed righteousness some 50 years earlier when he "By faith...went out not knowing whither he went" (Heb.11:8, Rom.4:5). It was also shown that Abraham was imputed righteousness when he believed God to conceive a son (Rom. 4:19-25; see also Gen.15:4-6 w/ Rom.4:3). And after he had offered up Isaac it was fulfilled which said righteousness was imputed to him (Jam.2:22). It said that his faith was made perfect by works, but not that he was made righteous by works (v22). He was DECLARED RIGHTEOUS (justified v21) by his works! That is the context of the whole passage: "shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works" v18, again v14 "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?" By Abraham offering up his own son he revealed that he had righteousness imputed to him already. If a man says he is righteous, yet commits sin, does his declaration mean anything? No, he is a liar. (1Jn. 2:4) Even so a man that has faith yet no works, has dead faith (v20), as a body without the spirit is dead (v26). He must be righteous, before he can be declared righteous! If he has no righteousness (works) it is evident he is not righteous. (1 Jn 3:7,10) A dead man lying in the tomb stinking has not been resurrected.
This idea is to be understood in a like manner as when the Lord states that he will be sanctified in our sight. (Num.20:13, Ezk.20:41, 28:22, 25, 36:23) He will be declared holy not made holy.
Before we are declared righteous however, we must become righteous! Now this leads us into the 2nd definition of the word justification: to be made righteous, even though you are a sinner. Now referring back to Exodus 23:7 for contrast, God said he will not justify the wicked, while Romans 4:5 says that God will "justify the ungodly". Is this a contradiction? God forbid, rather it demonstrates the 2 meanings, and therein is our salvation from sin and death; therein is the glory of God manifested. Job 25:4 reveals our condition: "How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? Job 15:16 "How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water? Job 9:20 "If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me:" This is because as Paul state in Rom. 3:9 we are "all under sin", v 10 "There is none righteous, no not one", v 12 "there is none that doeth good", v19 "all the world may become guilty before God". Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 7:20 "There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not", "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom.3:23). "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves...If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar..." (1Jn 1:8,10)
We are guilty of past sins which we have already committed (2 Pet. 1:9, Ezek. 18:22), and sin which dwells in us and reigns in us presently. (Rom.7:17, 5:21) We consist of a spirit, and soul, and body (1 Thess.5:23). The bible mentions the "filthiness of the flesh and spirit" (2 Cor 7:1), it mentions the "mind and conscience is defiled" (Titus 1:16). It mentions "fleshly lusts which war against the soul" (1Pet 2:11), and our soul in need of purification and salvation (1 Pet.1:9,22). It points out the sin of our soul (Mic.6:7), the heart being deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jer.17:9). It says that the "spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy" (James 4:5), and concerning our vile (Phil 3:21) mortal body Paul says " O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Rom.7:25) God not only hates our works (Isa. 64:6, Prov.28:9) but he is angry with us everyday as sinners (Psalm 7:11). God said in Isaiah 1:5-6 concerning our condition "the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot unto the head there is no soundness in it..." " For I know that in me (that is in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing" Rom.7:18. We cannot find how even to perform that which is good (v18), we do the evil that we would not, and the good that we would we do not (Rom 7:20). Paul reveals that this is "sin that dwelleth in me" (Rom.7:17), and "evil is present with me" (7:21), that is in his flesh. It is called the law of sin and death (7:25, 8:2), and Paul says that it is in our members (7:23). James also says the same in 4:1. He says that wars and fightings come from our lusts that war in our members. This is the lust of the flesh in 1 Jn 2:16, and "fleshly lusts" in 1 Peter 2:11. James further reveals that this is where temptation comes from, the enticing of "his own lust" (1:14). He says that "when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death" (1:15). Paul shows that sin is alive in our mortal body (Rom.6:12). He speaks of it deceiving us and slaying us (Rom.7:11), and reigning (6:12), moving (7:5) and working death in us (7:13). How do we know this? The law of God (7:7).
Under this condition, we are condemned already (Jn 3:18), and the wrath of God abideth upon us (Jn 3:36). We are children of wrath (Eph. 2:3), and the damnation of hell is inescapable (Mat. 23:33). We are guilty before God (Rom. 3:4) and appointed to die, then face the judgment (Heb. 9:27)
Why are we in this state? Adam's transgression (Rom. 5:12,14). We are born sinners (Psalm 51:5, 58:3), and as children foolishness is bound in our hearts (Prov.22:15). We are transgressors from the womb (Isa.48:8). Now there comes the ‘age of accountability’ (or more accurately the ‘stage’) in the little child’s life that he comes to the knowledge of sin (Rom. 3:20, 7:9) and he sins against God knowingly, and sin is revived in his body and he dies toward God (7:9-11). He yields to the strength of sin (1 Cor 15:56), and sin brings forth fruit unto death (Rom.7:5). Sin deceives him, and rises up to slay him (Rom.7:11, Eph.4:18), while the child cannot resist this force, he succumbs to the law of sin and death (Rom.7:23). Adam has subjected all his children to this sin in their body, which results in their damnation as they embrace it, and in Adam all die (1 Cor 15:22) because all have sinned (Rom.5:12, 3:23). The little child now has to believe in Jesus Christ (Mt. 18:6) as the Father does not want any of them to perish (Mt 18:14). And woe unto that man who offends a child who has faith in Jesus Christ (Mt.18:6).
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned. And death reigned even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression (Rom.5:12,14). Adam sinned wilfully with full knowledge of his sin (1 Tim.2:14) and then after eating the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen.3:1-6), he subjected his body, and his children’s bodies to sin being alive in their flesh, by the life of the flesh, the blood (Lev.17:11,14, Gen. 9:4). Sin is alive in our bodies by motions and impulses (Rom.7:5), and the life of the flesh is in the blood (Rom.7:17). So, death passed upon all men (Rom.5:12), as God made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth (Acts 17:26). All men therefore voluntarily, greedily and usually gleefully yield to their own lust (Eph.4:19), allowing sin and death to grip their mortal bodies (Rom.6:16), and sinning also against God (5:12). They are free from righteousness, and unable to attain unto the glory of God (6:20, 3:23). All men therefore will have to come to the knowledge of this with 2 thoughts. 1---O wretched man that I am! What have I done? who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Rom.7:24). And 2---God be merciful to me a sinner! (Luke 18:13). This man will be justified by the faith of Christ (Luke 18:14, Gal. 2:16). For he puts no confidence in his flesh (Phil. 3:3), neither trusts in himself that he is righteous (Lk. 18:9). But realizes he has sinned and all his righteousnesses are as filthy rags before God (Rom. 3:23, Isa. 64:6). He confesses and forsakes his sins to receive mercy (Prov.28:13, 1 Jn 1:9). He repents of his sin that he might have faith in Jesus Christ (Mt. 21:32, Mk. 1:15).
How then does faith in Jesus Christ make someone righteous?
The answer is twofold. The death of and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is because justification is twofold. Sin is not imputed, and righteousness is imputed. 1st his death, resulting in sin not imputed:
We are justified through his death! Sin not imputed. (Rom.4:8) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 3:24). In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace (Eph. 1:7). In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:14). Being now justified by his blood (Rom. 5:9) we are reconciled to God through the death of his Son (5:10). He hath reconciled us in the body of his flesh through death having made peace through the blood of his cross (Col. 1:20,22). The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin (1 Jn 1:7). And he washed us from our sins in his own blood (Rev. 1:5).
The first aspect of justification is that our sins are not imputed unto us. Romans ch.4 shows both parts of justification. It shows how Abraham was justified by faith. His faith was counted for righteousness (v3,5), and sin is not imputed (v8). His iniquities were forgiven and his sins were covered (v7). Imputed is simply 'counted' (v3, w/ v6).
God has laid upon Christ the iniquity of us all (Isa. 53:6), and made him to be sin for us (2 Cor 5:21), even though he had no sin of himself, (Heb. 4:15) he was undefiled (7:26) and he himself did no sin (1 Pet. 2:22). But when he gave himself for all (1 Tim.2:6), and was delivered up for us all (Rom. 8:32) he was offered to bear the sin of many (Heb. 9:28). His body was offered up (Heb. 10:10) and he 'bare our sins in his own body on the tree' (1 Pet. 2:24). His blood being shed for the remission of sins (9:22). So, Christ died for our sins (1 Cor 15:3) being put to death in the flesh (1 Pet. 3:18), he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, and the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed (Isa. 53:5). He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (v3). Surely, he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows (v4). He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter (v7), and his soul was made an offering for sin (v10) bearing the sin of many (11-12). "Amazing love, how can it be, that thou my God shouldst die for me"!
Therefore, when Christ died for us, he was actually judged by God as us. We were crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20). We are counted as dead in Christ (Col. 3:3), crucified with him (Rom.6:6). He gave himself for our sins (Gal.1:4), and was sacrificed for us (1 Cor 5:7). For this purpose, he appeared in the flesh as a man (Heb 2:14) to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself (Heb.9:26). He so loved us that he gave himself for us (Eph. 5:25, Titus 2:14) that he might redeem us from all iniquity. Christ so loved us, he gave himself for us as an offering and sacrifice (Eph. 5:2) to God. We are reconciled to God by the death of his Son (Rom 5:10), by the grace of God he, Jesus Christ, tasted death for every man (Heb. 2:9). Jesus Christ is himself the propitiation (satisfaction) for our sins and the sins of the whole world (1 Jn 2:2) so that God can be just in forgiving us of our sins (1 Jn. 1:9, 4:10, Rom. 3:26).
Christ represented us to God’s justice on the cross (his severity) and to God’s mercy now in heaven (his goodness). (Eph.2:6-7, Rom 11:22) God so loved the world that he would give his only begotten Son in our place to be condemned as us, and quench the fire of Gods wrath (Lam.1:12-13) so God could have mercy upon all (Rom.11:32). So, Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God (1 Pet.3:18). God has offered us his forgiveness freely (Rom.3:24). By grace we are saved through faith and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God, not of our works lest any man should boast (Eph.2:8-9). This is according to the great love wherewith he loved us, that God who is rich in mercy (Eph 2:4) saved us, but not according to our works (Titus 3:5). For we have before proved that we are all under sin (Rom.3:9). Therefore, by the works of the law, there shall NO FLESH BE JUSTIFIED (Gal.2:16)
We are justified by his resurrection. Righteousness is imputed. (Rom.4:6) Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Rom.4:23) They which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ (Rom.5:17) Yield yourselves as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. (Rom.6:13) We which believe shall not come into condemnation, but are passed from death unto life (Jn.5:24) for righteousness delivereth from death (Prov. 10:2, 11:4). So, by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life (Rom.5:18).
This part of justification is more misunderstood than the 1st. For as sin is not being imputed, or counted to us, righteousness is imputed (Rom.4:3-6). We receive the gift of righteousness (Rom.5:17), which is the righteousness of life. Now we don't receive righteousness as a 'thing', or an 'object' conceptually, rather we receive the person of Jesus Christ as our righteousness (1 Cor.1:30, Rom.10:4, Phil.3:9, 1:11, Jer.23:6, 33:16). We receive the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Phil.1:19) and Christ is in us as our hope of glory (Col.1:27). If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his (Rom.8:11). Now scripture says of Jesus Christ that he is of God made unto us righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30). This is not our own righteousness which we have from obeying the law in our natural strength (Phil. 3:9, Rom.10:3). For Jesus Christ himself is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. The law exposes our incapacity to obey God. (Mt.19:21-2) Rather, this is the righteousness of God, Jesus Christ. He is the propitiation, that is the appeasement of Gods justice, by his death (Rom.3:25, 1 Jn 2:2, 4:10). And he is the righteousness of God in that he is the manifestation of Gods ways, and works. He is the image of the person of God the Father (Heb. 1:3, 2 Cor 4:6). He that hath seen Jesus Christ has seen God (Jn 14:9), and he worked the works of God (Jn 5:17). The Father which was in Jesus Christ bodily (Col. 2:9, 2 Cor 5:19), worked the works (Jn 14:10-11). You could say then that God was the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is our righteousness. In this is fulfilled the scripture "she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness" (Jer. 33:16). For Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16), so that God can be joined to us, and be manifest in us as the hope of glory (Col.1:27). 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 Cor.5:21)
God is righteous (Psalm 119:137, 145:17). Therefore, when he does anything, it is a work of righteousness, a manifestation of righteousness. When we are joined unto the Lord (1 Cor.6:17) by faith, and the Spirit of Jesus Christ his Son is sent forth into our body (Rom. 8:10, 1 Cor. 6:19), and into our heart (Gal. 4:6, 2 Cor. 1:22) we are counted as righteous because our heart now has Gods laws written upon it. Ezekiel 36:26-27---A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. This is when God puts his laws into our minds and writes them in our hearts (Heb. 8:10). God desires truth in the inward parts (Psa. 51:6), and therefore makes us into new creatures (2 Cor 5:17, Gal. 6:15). He creates in us a clean heart and renews in us a right spirit (Psa. 51:10). We are newly created in the image of God, in righteousness and true holiness (Col.3:10, Eph.4:24). We are made the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ (2 Cor 5:21). We become the servants of righteousness (Rom.6:18), being risen again by the resurrection of Christ (Rom.6:5). We do righteousness because we are righteous even as he is righteous (1 Jn 3:7), and he that doeth righteousness is born of him (1 Jn 2:29).
Justification is also seen in the establishment of the new covenant. Understanding justification to be righteousness imputed, while sin no longer is imputed, we see in Jeremiah 31:31 that the new covenant is to be established with the house of Israel and Judah. This will occur in the latter days (Rom.11:26). But now, we that are in Christ are made partakers of this covenant of promise (Eph.2: 12-13). Notice how sins are no longer remembered, and iniquity is forgiven (Jer. 31:34). This is by the offering of the body and blood of Jesus Christ (Heb 10:10-19). Also, God said he would put his spirit within us (Ezek. 36:27) and write his laws in our hearts, and put them in our inward parts (Jer. 31:33). This is by the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Rom.8:9-11, Ezek.37:13-14, 1 Pt.1:3). His Spirit raises us from being dead in trespasses and sins (Eph.2:1,5, Col.2:13), putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, and putting on righteousness (Isa.59:17). Now we walk in newness of life (Rom.6:4), that is the justification of life (Rom.5:18), for the Spirit is life because of righteousness (Rom.8:10, Gal.3:21).
Thus, we are forgiven for past sins (Heb.8:12), and Jesus Christ is our righteousness. We are delivered from sin and death in our mortal bodies, by the justification of life (Rom.5:18). Where we being dead to sins live unto righteousness (1 Pet.2:24), and being made free from sin we became the servants to righteousness (Rom.6:18). This is when righteousness is upon us (for the presence of sin now) Romans 3:22. And finally, our complete justification is in the resurrection where the positional and practical aspects of salvation merge in us. This is when Christ’s finished work for us is manifested and we are swallowed up of life. (2 Cor.5:4) This is when sin is finally eliminated from our whole body and soul and spirit. (1 Cor 15:42-58) This is when we will fulfill the scripture of "he that is dead is freed from sin" and again "if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him" (Rom.6:7-8). If we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection, and we shall not die anymore (Rom.6:5, 9, Lk.20:36) neither is there any condemnation (Rom.8:1). Also, in the resurrection the scripture will be completely fulfilled, which saith "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not...Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." (1Jn 3:5-9) This happens when we see him and are transformed into his image. (1 Jn.3:2, Phil.3:20-1) And again "We know that whatsoever is born of God sinneth not" (5:18) and this in practical terms.
Finally, we can see our justification demonstrated in Abraham as a figure. As we consider, that we are saved past, present and future (2 Cor 1:10, Rom.13:11) in Christ. (Col.2:10, Rom.8:30) And that our past sins are forgiven (2 Pet.1:9 Ezek.18:22), we are delivered from our present condition of sin in this body (Rom.6:12,18), and we await the redemption and transformation of this mortal body in the resurrection (Rom.8:23, Phil.3:21). We see in Abraham this demonstrated in a figure. First, he was delivered from his past sins by faith when he went out from his father's house (Heb.11:8, Rom.4:5, Gen.12:1-4) at the call of God. Next, he was in figure delivered from sin in his body, by faith in God. For it saith "being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead" (Rom.4:19). Therefore, it was imputed to him for righteousness (4:22). And finally, in Heb. 11:17, with James 2:21-26, we see in type, the resurrection and deliverance from this sinful body. Abraham offered up Isaac, accounting that God was able to raise him from the dead, and he received him in a figure. Now these things were not written for his sake alone, but for us also, to whom righteousness shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. Who was delivered for our offense and raised again for our justification (Rom.4:23-25).
What does this now mean for the Christian day by day? We are to be working out this salvation which was accomplished by God through Christ. (Phil.2:12-13) What is supposed to be occurring in the Christians life is they are growing in in grace and increasing in righteousness daily taking up their cross. (2 Pt.3:18, Lk.9:23, 2 Cor.4:16) Their mortifying the deeds of the body with its affections and lusts (Rom.8:13, Col.3:5, Gal.5:24) as the quickening life of the Spirit changes us into the image of Christ. We do not trust ourselves but in him to transform us and direct our paths. (2 Cor.3:18, 4:10-11, Prov.3:5-7, Rom.8:11) The problem that we encounter within the household of faith is when we are interacting with others who have different callings and different rates of spiritual maturity and we begin comparing ourselves among ourselves.
Once we receive the "gift of righteousness", righteousness unto us and upon us (Rom 3:22 KJV), we are then able to fulfill the righteousness of the law by the Spirit (Rom.8:4) and establish the law by faith (Rom.3:31). Actually, love is the fulfilling of the whole law (Rom.13:9-10, Gal. 5:14). And the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost (Rom.5:5, Gal.5:22). So again, the righteousness of God is Spirit. And this is where we get into the defining our righteousness by faith, or our own righteousness by the flesh (Rom. 9:30-10:10). It is a matter of the will. There is dead faith (faith without works)- Ja.2:17, 20, 26. And there are dead works (works without faith)- Heb.6:1, 9:14, Rv.3:1. What the Christian must be daily aware of is the trusting in ourselves and our own righteousness instead of the grace of God working in us. (Ezek.33:13, 2 Cor.1:9, Lk.18:9) The love of God must operate in our thoughts as we bring them in captivity to the obedience of Christ. (2 Cor.10:5) Part of loving your brother is rebuking him and helping him overcome sin by the faith of Christ. (Lev. 19:17, Gal. 6:1-2, Matt.18:15,1 Cor.5) But this requires wisdom and considering the spiritual maturity of each Christian and the calling of each. Those given to the ministry of the word and prayer should not contend with nor expect those commissioned to the daily ministration to labour in doctrine. (Acts 6:1-4, 1 Tim.5:7) Know the members of the body and them which labour among you. (1 Thes.5:12, 1 Cor.12) So, our hearts must be pure and genuinely seeking their good; knowing them. A review of this study will refresh us regarding how righteousness is manifested.
Righteousness operates in our hearts by love unfeigned and faith unfeigned. (2 Cor.6:6, 2 Tim.1:5) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently. (1 Pt.1:22) We must operate ourselves in cleanness (2 Sam. 22:21, 25, Psa.51:10) separated from idolatry or covetousness (Gen.35:2, Eph. 5:5, Col.3:5) as righteousness generates holiness. (Rom.6:19) By full assurance of faith in the blood of Christ by the new and living way where there is no condemnation (Heb 10:19-22, Rom.8:1) so, we can proclaim “I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.” (Job 33:9) We can have pure motives and a sincere heart. As the Lord creates in us a clean heart, and renews a right spirit within (Psa.51:10) we can have clean hands, and a pure heart; and not lift up our soul unto vanity. (Psa.24:4) Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. (Psa.51:2) Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. (Psa.119:9) The problem is, all the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, so we need the Lord to weigh the spirits. (Prv.16:2) When the LORD says “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil” (Isa.1:16) we can do all things through Christ. (Phil.4:13) Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. (Jn.15:3, Eph.5:26, 1 Jn.1:7,9) And by believing his word, by these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Cor.7:1) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (Jam.4:8) We purify our hearts by faith (Act.15:9) unto the obedience of faith (Rom.1:5, 16:26) and serve in sincerity and truth. (1 Cor.5:8, Jos.24:14) The Spirit of God works effectually in our hearts with his word discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart. (1 Thes. 2:13, Heb 4:12) Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. (Psa.19:12) God will bring to light the hidden things and manifest the counsels of the heart. (1 Cor 4:3-5) David prayed “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psa.139:23-4) Then we can say “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world...” (2 Cor.1:12)
As we walk in the light by his Spirit in faith, God will reveal when our motives are insincere or doubleminded. When respect of persons creeps in and we hold people in esteem for vain glory or advantage. When we speak the word of God in boldness to impress or glorify ourselves in envy or in strife God will reveal this. When we withhold a rebuke or testify to the truth for fear of man, or punishment. When we judge or criticize but not to correct and assist out of love, rather to tear down out of envy and covetousness. When the wrath of man is put forth as righteous indignation, the Lord will reveal even this. When we are admonishing sinners because we are angry at their rejection and we retaliate with the word hoping for judgment to come upon them where Christ came not to destroy men's lives but to save. Where we feign prayer for someone as our heart is far from them. Or our prayers are amiss with our own lusts as the aim. When we disguise an evil railing for an authoritative rebuke. When we wrest a passage of scripture to win an argument or misrepresent our opponents' statements to exalt ourselves over them unjustly, God knoweth. When we assert ourselves presumptuously where we are ignorant and self-willed the Holy Ghost will convict and reveal. As we remove the beams from our own eyes, we will be able to properly assist our brother with the mote that is in his eye.
But what we begin to see is what Paul stated, “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.” “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” (Rom. 7:21-3) Which is to say “abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” (1 Pt.2:11, Jam. 4:1-5) This is not an excuse to sin since Paul asserts that Christ delivers from the body of this death by impartation of his quickening Spirit. (Rom.7:24-5) It is just a recognition that sin is present with us. The Father of spirits chastens us and to our own master we stand or fall so our faith needs to be in him who is able to make us stand. (Heb.12:5-11, Rom.14:4)
How righteous one should be at any given moment in their lives? The answer is that you need to be where God would have you and be fellowshipping with him by his Spirit. By faith in Christ, know that you are right with God, your sins are forgiven and you are pressing in for more of Him. Then you need not accept any condemnation from others for you have faith as the woman in John 8, ‘The Lord does not condemn me, as I go away from my sin into his glorious salvation.’ Jesus would say to us as unto her “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” He sets us free from sin to walk with him and know him. Let us not have dead faith -faith without works, or dead works- works without faith, but the obedience of unfeigned faith which worketh by unfeigned love. (Gal.5:6, Eph.3:17, 1 Thes.1:3, 5:8, 1 Tim.1:14, 2 Tim.1:13)
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