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 because we are not under the law, but under Grace? It shall not be! Do you not know that who you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey – whether sin unto death or obedience unto righteousness? 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. And you, having been set free from sin, have become servants of righteousness.
Part 2 – Grace & Righteousness
In The New Testament 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
