Daily Bread – April 20, 2024 (The Seventh Day – Genesis 2:1-3) Romans 6:14-18 – For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the Law, but under grace. What then, shall we sin be- cause we are not under the Law but under grace? Let it not be! Do you not know that who you yield yourself as servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey, whether sin unto death, or obedience unto righteousness? But thanks be to God because you were the servants of sin, but by the grace of God, you have now obeyed from the heart the blueprint of doctrine delivered to you. Now, having been set free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness. Understanding The Meaning Of Righteousness The concrete meaning for righteousness in the New Testament is shaped by the way it was used in the Old Testament. Primarily, the meaning is derived from the character of God and the description of His ways. Other examples are the verses and the context common to the Old and New Testament. Some examples are, Genesis 15:6 found in Romans 4:3-22, Galatians 3:6, James 2:23; and Psalms 112:9 found in 2 Corinthians 9:9; and Psalms 45:7 found in Hebrews 1:9. There are Old Testament associations of the word for righteousness in Acts 17:31 with Psalms 9:8, 96:10, 98:9; in 2 Corinthians 9:6-10 with Hosea 10:12; in Ephesians 6:14 with Isaiah 59:17, 11:5; and in Revelation 19:11 with Psalms 96:13. In the Old Testament “righteousness/righteous” is used of God (Psalms 7:9, 116:5, 119:37-40, 144; Ezra 9:15; Isaiah 24:16), of His acts (Judges 5:11; 1 Samuel 12:7; Psalms 145:17), of God’s people in general (Genesis 18:23-28; Psalms 68:3; Proverbs 21:21; Isaiah 5:23; Ezekiel 3:20; Malachi 3:18), and of individuals such as Noah, Job and Daniel (Genesis 6:9, 7:1; Job 1:1, 2:3; Ezekiel 14:14,20). In the New Testament, righteousness and justification are interchangeable. In fact, when either the Hebrew root, or the Greek ‘dikaioun’ are used, they can equally be translated “just, justice/justification, justify” from the Latin, or “right, righteous(ness),” (Anchor Bible Dictionary; Righteousness – Greco-Roman World). Righteousness/righteous is used of God the Father (John 17:25); of Jesus (Acts 3:14, 7:52; 1 John 2:1); of the saints in general (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; James 5:16; Hebrews 10:38; 1 John 3:7; 1 Peter 3:12); as the result of redemption (Romans 5:17,19, 3:22, 6:18, 8:10, 9:30, 10:4, and Romans 14:17, 4:25; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 4:24; Philippians 3:9); of individuals such as Joseph (Matthew 1:19); of Zachariah and Elizabeth (Luke 1:5-6); of Simeon (Luke 2:25); of Joseph, a member of the council (Luke 23:50); as a category of people (Matthew 5:45, 9:13, 10:41, 13:17,43,49, and Matthew 25:37,46; Luke 1:17, 14:14; Acts 24:15; 2 Corinthians 6:14) of Old Testament saints (Matthew 23:29, 35; Hebrews 11:4). In the New Testament, we are commanded to pursue righteousness (Matthew 6:33; 1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:22). We are called to be the servants of righteousness, and to live righteously (Romans 6:18,19; 1 Peter 2:24; Titus 1:7-9, 2:11-12; 2 Corinthians 6:6-7, 9:10; and Romans 1:17; Ephesians 4:24, 6:14; Philippians 1:11). The New Testament is the message and ministry of righteousness (2 Corinthians 3:9; Romans 5:18, 14:17; Ephesians 4:24; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21). Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Daily Bread 4/20/2024
