FIC Home
The Righteousness of God
There is a distinction between holiness and Righteousness. The holiness of
God speaks of all His splendor and glory in purity, transcendence and separation
from all his creation. His Righteousness speaks more of His justice, acts and
judgments. Simply put his holiness in action is His righteousness. Though His
holiness and righteousness seems to blend. His holiness speaks more of his
character by which in the Bible he swears by. His righteousness speaks more of
His acts and deeds which declare his holiness and character.
His Justice is His Righteousness in rule and government.
The Hebrew word for “righteous” is
tsedek,
which is defined as follows: “Rightness, straightness, rectitude; justice of a
judge, of a king, of God exhibited in punishing the wicked, or in avenging,
delivering, rewarding the righteous.”Another Hebrew word is
mishpat
which means righteous judgment as a judge.
The Greek word for “righteous” is
dikaios,
a definition of which is: “1. of God—“just, righteous, with reference to His
judgment of men and nations, a righteous judge; 2. of men—“upright, just,
righteous conforming to the laws of God and man, and living in accordance with
them.”
God is a Righteous God, because He acts at all times in
complete conformity with His Holy Nature and Will. One of the greatest
chapters of the Bible about God is the 32nd chapter of Deuteronomy. In verse
four we have a definition of God’s righteous actions: “He is the ROCK [Ha
Tsur], his work is perfect: for all his ways are
judgment [mishpat—just
judgment], a God of Truth [amunah—faithfulness
in fulfilling promises] and without iniquity [avel—injustice
in dealing with men], just [tsadik—righteous]
and right [jashar—upright]
is he” (Dt. 32:4). God’s Righteousness is Immutable, He is a Rock. God
is referred to as a Rock five (5) times in Deuteronomy chapter thirty-two.
His Righteousness never changes, His Justice is unfailing; He is
Faithful in dealing with His people according to His Nature and His revealed
Law and covenants. He will punish in awful judgment as well as reward
bountifully, but always according to His promises and covenants. He is
completely above any unjust or deceitful treatment, all His ways are
“upright.”
As Righteous God, He lays down just laws to govern the
dealings men have with one another in society. The first four commandments
have to do with the worship and service of God, but the last six pertain to
the people’s treatment one toward another. Our God deals with us in justice;
we must deal one with another in righteousness. God, through the mouth of
Isaiah, admonished Israel: “… put away the evil of your doings from before
mine eyes … Learn to do well; seek judgment [mishpat—justice],
relieve the oppressed, judge [righteously] the fatherless, plead for the
widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord. …” (Is. 1:16–18).
In the New Testament, the English words “righteousness” and “justice” are
translations of the same Greek word. This is seen in the
definition of the word “justification,” which means the act of declaring
one “righteous.” In the book of Romans, we learn about a righteousness of
Man apart from the Law. God requires perfect righteousness from Man, but
Man in his fallen state falls short of perfection. In the Law, provision
was made for cleansing through the sacrificial system. Paul declared
concerning a new basis for righteousness (Rom. 3:21–26).
Our Righteous and Holy God is also a God of
Mercy and Forbearance, but He will not act inconsistent with His
Holiness. In His Righteousness He made a way to justify the
sinner, by sending His Infinite Son to be, once for all, the
Perfect Sacrifice for sin. Since as the last Adam He lived in
perfect obedience to the Holy Will of the Father, God could bestow
upon the believer Christ’s Righteousness without ceasing to be
Righteous. The believing sinner becomes righteous in Christ, at
the same time God’s Righteousness has not been compromised. We
must remember, however, that we are righteous in Christ:
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ. …” (Rom. 5:1).
Duffield, Guy P. ; Van Cleave, Nathaniel
M.: Foundations of Pentecostal Theology. Los Angeles,
Calif. : L.I.F.E. Bible College, 1983, S. 77
FIC Home