Understanding Righteousness: Accountability, Temperance, and Redemption

Devotional

Day 1: Righteousness as God's Essential Attribute

Righteousness is a fundamental attribute of God, characterized by purity and uprightness. It is the foundation of our relationship with God and is reflected in the Ten Commandments, which prioritize our love for God above all else. This righteousness is not just a set of rules but a reflection of God's nature, inviting us to align our lives with His holiness. The Ten Commandments serve as a guide to understanding how we can live in a way that honors God and reflects His righteousness in our interactions with others. By prioritizing our relationship with God, we can better love and serve those around us, fulfilling the commandments' call to love God and our neighbor. [24:06]

"For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face." (Psalm 11:7, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you prioritize your relationship with God today, ensuring that His righteousness is reflected in your actions and decisions?

Day 2: Temperance as Self-Control

Temperance, or self-control, is the practical application of righteousness. It requires discipline and the ability to live out the principles of righteousness in daily life, beyond mere words or protests against large-scale injustices. True temperance is not just about abstaining from certain behaviors but about cultivating a disciplined life that reflects God's righteousness. It challenges us to examine our personal failings and strive for a life that is consistent with our beliefs. By practicing self-control, we can better align our actions with our faith, demonstrating the transformative power of righteousness in our everyday lives. [29:41]

"A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." (Proverbs 25:28, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you struggle with self-control. What practical steps can you take today to exercise discipline in that area?

Day 3: Judgment and Accountability

Judgment is a vital part of the biblical message, reminding us of our ultimate accountability before God. The resurrection of Jesus is a testament to this coming judgment, where all will stand before God to give an account of their lives. This understanding of judgment calls us to live responsibly, knowing that our actions have eternal significance. It is a sobering reminder that we are created in God's image and are accountable for how we live our lives. Embracing this truth can lead us to live with greater intentionality and purpose, seeking to honor God in all that we do. [36:53]

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Corinthians 5:10, ESV)

Reflection: How does the reality of future judgment influence your daily decisions and actions? What changes can you make to live more intentionally in light of this truth?

Day 4: Hope and Redemption through Faith

The Gospel offers hope and redemption through faith in Christ. Despite our failures, God offers forgiveness and new life through His Son, who bore our sins. This is the essence of the Gospel—good news of salvation through faith. It is a message of hope that assures us of God's love and grace, inviting us to experience a transformed life. By placing our faith in Christ, we can receive forgiveness and the promise of eternal life, allowing us to live with confidence and joy. This hope is not just for the future but impacts how we live today, empowering us to overcome challenges and live with purpose. [42:15]

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace." (Ephesians 1:7, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a past failure or sin. How can you embrace God's forgiveness and allow His grace to transform your life today?

Day 5: Wisdom in Recognizing Our Need for God

Rejecting the message of the Gospel often stems from pride or perceived intelligence. Yet, true wisdom lies in recognizing our need for God, as demonstrated by the Apostle Paul, a giant intellect who embraced faith in Christ. This wisdom calls us to humility, acknowledging that our understanding is limited and that we need God's guidance and grace. By embracing this truth, we can experience the fullness of life that God offers, living in a way that reflects His wisdom and love. It challenges us to set aside our pride and seek a deeper relationship with God, trusting in His wisdom and plan for our lives. [49:26]

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." (1 Corinthians 1:25, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you rely on your own understanding rather than seeking God's wisdom? How can you cultivate a posture of humility and dependence on God today?

Sermon Summary

In today's world, the concept of righteousness is often misunderstood or overlooked. Righteousness, as described in the Bible, is an essential attribute of God, characterized by uprightness and purity, devoid of any darkness or deceit. God, in His righteousness, created man in His own image, making man inherently righteous at creation. This original righteousness allowed man to have communion with God, as only like can commune with like. However, the fall of man introduced sin, distorting this righteousness. To understand righteousness, one must look to the Ten Commandments, which outline man's relationship with God and fellow humans. The first commandment emphasizes loving God with all one's heart, soul, mind, and strength, while the second focuses on loving one's neighbor as oneself. This order is crucial, as our relationship with God should always take precedence.

Paul, when speaking to Felix and Drusilla, emphasized not only righteousness but also temperance, which is often misunderstood as mere abstinence from alcohol. True temperance is self-control and discipline, the practical application of righteousness in daily life. It's easy to speak eloquently about righteousness, but the real test is living it out. Many can protest against large-scale injustices while ignoring personal failings. Paul highlighted the importance of temperance to Felix, who, despite his knowledge of Roman law, failed to live a disciplined life.

The third aspect Paul addressed was the judgment to come, a vital part of the biblical message often forgotten today. Judgment signifies that man, made in God's image, is a responsible being who will be held accountable for his actions. The resurrection of Jesus is a testament to this coming judgment, where all will stand before God. This message of judgment is crucial, as it reminds us of the ultimate accountability we have before God.

However, the message doesn't end with judgment. The faith in Christ offers hope and redemption. Despite our failures, God, in His love, sent His Son to bear our sins, offering us forgiveness and new life. This is the essence of the Gospel—good news of salvation through faith in Christ. Paul passionately preached this message, urging Felix and Drusilla to repent and believe. Sadly, they rejected it, a decision many make today, often citing intelligence as a barrier to faith. Yet, the Apostle Paul, a giant intellect, embraced this faith, demonstrating that true wisdom lies in recognizing our need for God.

Key Takeaways

1. Righteousness is an essential attribute of God, characterized by purity and uprightness. It is the foundation of our relationship with God and is reflected in the Ten Commandments, which prioritize our love for God above all else. [24:06]
2. Temperance, or self-control, is the practical application of righteousness. It requires discipline and the ability to live out the principles of righteousness in daily life, beyond mere words or protests against large-scale injustices. [29:41]
3. Judgment is a vital part of the biblical message, reminding us of our ultimate accountability before God. The resurrection of Jesus is a testament to this coming judgment, where all will stand before God to give an account of their lives. [36:53]
4. The Gospel offers hope and redemption through faith in Christ. Despite our failures, God offers forgiveness and new life through His Son, who bore our sins. This is the essence of the Gospel—good news of salvation through faith. [42:15]
5. Rejecting the message of the Gospel often stems from pride or perceived intelligence. Yet, true wisdom lies in recognizing our need for God, as demonstrated by the Apostle Paul, a giant intellect who embraced faith in Christ. [49:26]
** [49:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[23:45] - Understanding Righteousness
[24:42] - Man's Original Righteousness
[25:38] - Communion with God
[26:11] - The Ten Commandments and Righteousness
[28:07] - The Meaning of Temperance
[29:41] - Righteousness vs. Temperance
[31:52] - The Test of Practice
[33:38] - The Call to Temperance
[35:47] - Judgment to Come
[37:53] - The End of Time
[40:18] - Facing Judgment
[42:15] - The Faith in Christ
[44:08] - The Sacrifice of Jesus
[46:52] - The Call to Repentance
[49:26] - Intelligence and Faith

Sermon Clips

Righteousness is one of the attributes of God. God is righteous, He is Holy, He is just. What's it mean? Well, righteousness means an essential uprightness. It's the opposite of everything that is small and mean and twisted and perverted. God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. [00:23:32]

God created man in His own image, and man differs from everything else in creation for in this way and for this reason: that God put something of Himself into man. Man was made to be a companion with God and for fellowship with God. So God made man righteous, made in uprightness. [00:24:54]

If you really want to know in greater detail what righteousness means and how a man shows that he's righteous in his life, fortunately, we are able to do so because God has defined it. He spelled it out. If you want to know what a righteous life is, you simply turn to the Ten Commandments. [00:26:04]

The first commandment is Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and soul and mind and strength. The second, and it is second, remember, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. We've reversed them today and we start with the neighbor and tend to forget God. [00:26:44]

Temperance really means self-control. It means discipline. It means continence. It's the opposite of intemperance, incontinence, laxity, looseness. Temperance. But someone may say, having described righteousness, why did Paul trouble to go on to talk in particular about temperance? [00:28:30]

We may wax eloquent about righteousness as a principle, but the question is, do we put that into practice? And it's a very serious question. I'll tell you why. I'm old enough to remember the First World War, and I remember the greatest oration which I think I've ever heard in my life. [00:29:54]

Felix probably knew a great deal about Roman law and equity and things of this description, but was he practicing these principles? Was he living a continent, controlled, temperate life? He wasn't, of course. So Paul reasons about temperance, and this is what is so essential today. [00:32:58]

Judgment is a vital part of the biblical message. What's it mean? It means this: that man, because he is made in the image and likeness of God, and because he's not a mere animal, he is a responsible being, and God is going to hold him responsible. Death is not the end. [00:36:26]

The whole of this message is to this effect: that there's to be an end to time as there was a beginning. God created the world. He started the time process. It's going to end. It's moving, moving on to a grand climax, and the day is coming when everybody has ever lived in this world will stand at the bar of final judgment. [00:37:48]

Thank God he didn't stop at that, for if he had, there'd be no hope for anybody. We'd all be utterly, irretrievably doomed. There is none righteous, no, not one. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The whole world lieth guilty before God. [00:40:30]

The faith in Christ, the Christian Gospel, the good news. You human Christianity is a gospel. It's good news. It's not a protest movement. It's not simply against this, that, and the other. It's not always negative. It's positive. It's good news. It's thrilling good news. [00:42:32]

God sent his only son into the world to bear the sins of sinners, and he's made him to be sin, who knew no sin. God has laid on him the iniquity of us all. This Jesus died on a cross on a hill called Calvary, and he died. Why? Because God made him to be sin. [00:44:54]

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