RIGHTEOUSNESS
Hebrews 1: 9; 2: 11, 12
Romans 5: 19-21; 8: 9-11
Psalm 85: 9-13
SWS These are quite a few scriptures but there was a distinct impression of righteousness this morning. It came out in a very prominent way in giving thanks for the emblems, at least in my own mind, and I think the brethren felt that as well. Righteousness is such an important topic because it establishes within us the liberty that enables us not only to make progress in divine things but also to be found in the enjoyment of them. I really appreciated that verse that has been referred to, “righteousness and peace have kissed each other”, bringing those two thoughts together. How wonderful, and I trust the occasion that we had was characterised by peace. But it is a peace that can only be known, and it is a peace that can only be enjoyed, in reality, if there is clear understanding as to the righteous basis by which God has moved, and continues to operate. I think that is something to consider as well.
We read these verses with no particular order in mind; but probably Romans would be a good place to begin. In chapter 5, there is the wonderful thought of how grace has overabounded, and that “grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life”. God in mercy - as we often sing (Hymn 438) - has given His own Son, but I think grace emphasises the way that He has met it all, in order to secure righteously what is for His own heart. That is an even greater thought, and that is really what we are occupied with when we come together; righteousness is necessary so that we can understand the whole basis on which God has moved in order to secure something for His heart. It is a settled matter, and there is no peace like that -
O the peace of simply knowing (Hymn 390).
All that God has accomplished through His beloved Son is a settled matter; it is not necessarily an issue that is prominent before us when we come together, but it would be something that we have a real sense of in our souls as a settled disposition of God towards us. He sees us as in Christ on the basis of His righteous work, and through the work of Christ, God’s righteousness has been established. So there is that wonderful peace that should characterise us from the moment we walk in the door. It should characterise us in our movements, and as we progress in that wonderful privilege that is ours as we come together in the service of praise to be found occupied with what is for the heart of Christ, and what is for the Father.
So, Romans 5 is a good starting point, I think, to be reminded of that righteous basis and the way that God in His grace has moved; it is from His side, so that everything has been met. “Thou hast loved righteousness” really struck me this morning. He is the One who has fulfilled it, He is the One who has secured everything for the glory of God and for His heart. But it is also what characterised Him, the spirit in which He moved; it motivated Him, He loved righteousness. And the thing that impressed me, and the reason I read the words, “the sanctifier and those sanctified are all of one”, is that we are to have the same attitude, the same bent of mind, we are motivated in the same spirit, so that we love righteousness. It is something that brings joy to our hearts, to have part in what has been secured for God on a righteous basis; and to move in the wonderful liberty that comes with that. And so we are truly with Him; not merely with Him as far as what He has secured for Himself, but it is the thought of oneness, in righteousness, sharing His thoughts and feelings in moving in the same spirit in relation to the things of God. That is such a wonderful thing to consider.
And then what our brother brought in as to the Spirit is really important. It is only by the Spirit that the full import of righteousness can be understood. I think man in a natural sense can understand as far as the terms of righteousness, what it brings, but man in his mind would be occupied simply with what has been done in a right way, his focus would be what is being done and the activity of righteousness - this is right and this is wrong. But divine righteousness goes so much further than simply what has been done - or questions of what is right and wrong. In fact, there are many men and women in this world who can have a judgment objectively or outwardly as to what is right and what is wrong (and we should too of course). But divine righteousness goes beyond that; that is the impression that I had. Consequently, I trust that we might get some help as we enquire together.
DMW In linking on with your thought as to divine righteousness being beyond what is outwardly judged to be right or wrong, is it accurate to think of it simply, although very deep and profound, as involving the rights of God?
SWS That is a wonderful thought when we consider righteousness as the rights of God. Some may think on the basis of what is right and wrong but that is an extremely limited way to take up Christianity; because, when we take up the rights of God, it is in view of what God has purposed in His heart and is securing for Himself. Righteousness in a sense is the platform on which God has built this wonderful system that is functioning in life for Himself. So it is a much more expansive thought and sometimes I wonder if we think of righteousness in that way, to see how expansive it is. It is the basis on which God is building a system for Himself. It is not the way that man looks at it, but a living system.
DMW So there will be a universe founded on the righteousness of God. The difficulty has been through man and his history; no man could bring it in until Christ became a man. Would the previous verse to where we started in Romans 5 support what you are saying as to the platform that issues in life? I will just read the verse: “so then as it was by one offence” - that would be Adam, of course, by sinning - “towards all men to condemnation, so by one righteousness towards all men for justification of life”. This life is more than breathing; it is more than what is material, is it not? But it has its basis in this character which you are speaking about, which has been opened up by a Man, “Jesus Christ the righteous”, 1 John 2: 1. Does the footnote then support what we are getting at - it is subsisting righteousness (at the right hand of God)? This one righteousness subsists in heaven in the same Man who established it.
SWS That is helpful; it is what subsists in Him, what is in Him, based on who He is in Himself. We cannot say that of ourselves; it is unique to Him, and subsists in Him. It is something we are brought into, and it is only through the realisation of that, and the acceptance of that, that we can truly enter into it. It also says that “grace and truth subsists through” Him (John 1: 17); so that is another important aspect in our understanding of righteousness, do you think; the link between righteousness, and with grace and truth, and the way it comes out in a Person? I was thinking about something earlier in the chapter that links on with your thought. It talks about “those who receive the abundance of grace, and of the free gift of righteousness”, v 17. So righteousness is a gift, and shows that we need to be preserved from limiting our thoughts of righteousness to doing right or not doing wrong, because it is much more than that; it is something imparted, it is a gift: “the free gift of righteousness”, and it says that “those who receive the abundance of grace, and of the free gift of righteousness, reign in life”, which links on with your thought - “by the one Jesus Christ”.
DMW So He has companions. Would those companions be of the same character? In other words, all blend together in the oneness of righteousness because it has been established, and it will be the moral bond of the universe when He reigns. But is it established now in testimony in the companions?
SWS That was one encouraging thought to me, and was uplifting this morning, to view the assembly in that way, as a vessel of righteousness. That vessel has been secured through righteousness, but that vessel also has part in maintaining righteousness for Him in a testimonial sense. But then there is also maintaining an environment by which Christ Himself is free to make Himself known. Even when we come together; of course He comes to persons - we have been helped as to that - but it is important to realise that conditions collectively are also important, especially as to the extent as to which we can enjoy His presence collectively. And righteousness is a key feature of that, do you not think?
DMW Well, it must be. And I wondered about the end of the verse in the part you read in Romans - “to eternal life” - where the environment becomes an exercise. When we speak of testimony, it has a heavenly character of righteousness, where the rights of God are maintained in the assembly, but in the place where there is still opposition. We know this opposition: it is in us and outside of us: sin and death continue in the scene of testimony although annulled morally for us. So eternal life would underlie any movement spiritually in an ascending way. Again, it is more than existence; it is based upon the One who is eternal life. Everything we have, whether it be as gift or as an impression is all about the Man, and it is all in Him. That is where we are formed; that is where our life is - in Him, but it comes out testimonially here.
SWS He is the eternal life, and so I think that is what we have to come to and to realise it as well, when we consider the thought of testimony. Now man often thinks, and almost exclusively takes up testimony in relation to what is before man; our primary concern is what is Godward; that is the true testimony. Now there is what is expressed, there is what can be taken account of even by men, but our testimony towards man is not the point, it is Godward.
DMW This must be proven by an understanding the Spirit gives us. So, the Spirit in Romans 8 is the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of the Man; would that be right?
KRO This is very helpful. It was a simple impression but maybe we will get to open it up. It pertains to what the life is, the Spirit, and I am just attracted by the thought “on account of righteousness”. It is more than a sealing; it is an endorsement - I fail for words but it flows out of what has been accomplished in righteousness, and it is living. I am really helped by what you have both said as to the platform. I was looking for words myself in relation to it. God is love, is He not, we have that in Scripture, but His operations - everything that He has done in His will and in His counsels - are on a righteous basis? That is the foundation, the bedrock.
SWS It is interesting to bring that in, and it is a very helpful way to view God’s dealings with man. True love can only be found on the basis of righteousness; do you think? Because if it is not on the basis of righteousness, there is always the potential for something to come in and create distance. God in love would not have that; He would have man enter into the full, unhindered enjoyment of His love and of His presence. And so that love has been expressed, and can now come out to man, on a righteous basis. Again, His desire is that nothing would come in to mar that, and so if love was taken up in any other way, there would always be that potential. I think it really expresses the perfection of God’s love, the fact that it is on the basis of righteousness. I think that is a really helpful thought that you are bringing in.
DMW “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all”, 1 John 1: 5. To me, that has a suggestion of righteousness; and love would not be love if it was not righteous. There would be something of pretension or sentimentality, or something like that.
LEO That is a helpful impression. The verse in the Psalms says, “Righteousness shall go before him”; I was just struck by the fact that it seems an intrinsic part of His nature. I think it was mentioned this morning in one of the thanksgivings that His righteousness is uncompromised; there is nothing that will change that consistency. I think about you talking about man’s righteousness and how things that were considered righteous and morally acceptable years ago are now thrown out of the window. Man’s righteousness changes with what suits man, does it not? But God’s righteousness is perfectly consistent, and it is the same then as it is now.
SWS That is very helpful, and I think you see in man’s history there is always that proof of what you say, the decline that comes in; and man constantly and conveniently changes his definition. We see that even in Christendom’s view of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable; what was at one time not even conceived of is now considered acceptable. But I was thinking of the verse, while not in the scriptures it is true,
Ever just are all Thy dealings,
Perfect wisdom marks Thy way;
Righteousness attends upon Thee,
Truth before Thee holdeth sway. (Hymn 125)
The writer had some sense of what you are speaking of, the unchangeableness of God in His ways, and how His righteousness has been consistent through the ages and will never change.
DMW That hymn says, ‘From eternal ages onward”; God does not change. I suppose the change we see publicly that has been mentioned is because of the diminishing of the public testimony that moved westward, which moved on the basis of righteousness.
LMH I think the word you used, the convenience of righteousness, man’s view of righteousness changing to suit his own needs, is a good way to put it, because you can see how the devil would work to mask what is wrong by calling it something righteous in man’s eyes. You can see a danger in that; we have to know the true source of righteousness, the true example of it, do we not? We have to be careful because man will call things righteous that are very much not righteous.
DMW The scripture does enlarge on that a bit, especially for our day; what we see more and more publicly is that men are calling good evil and evil good, and it says in ministry (FER vol 3 p94) that lying is the primary characteristic of the old man; so in Colossians 3: 9-10 it says, “Do not lie to one another, having put off the old man with his deeds, and having put on the new”. Well, that is what we see, that lying is almost a challenge to man, as to how much he can lie, and make it sound like it is right, make it sound like the truth. That is especially done in political circles.
KRO Is what we are speaking about in contrast to man’s righteousness? Does that come out perhaps in 1 Corinthians 1: 30 where it says, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who has been made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness, and holiness, and redemption”. It really brings in that the source has been God, does it not? I was thinking too that it connects with holiness; it takes us out of the earthly realm (as an area of influence).
DMW I was wondering as we were reading to open this meeting about the distinction between righteousness and holiness. Is there any impression the brethren might have? I think we have holiness exemplified in divine Persons, and as mentioned previously in a reading, even God does not have what is called a free will; He cannot do what is evil, and the reason is because He is holy. And He does not deny Himself; therefore, He does not do what is evil and cannot do evil. So the abhorrence of evil perhaps helps us a little to understand holiness. If it has that character of abhorring evil, then the result must be righteousness. The rights of God are going to be revealed and have been revealed in “Jesus Christ the righteous”; and the Holy Spirit comes to indwell a vessel in the absence of the holy One. So we have an unction from the holy One in the assembly; and each individual does, even the children who are brought into the Christian circle. So we have no need for any one to teach us from the world what is right and wrong; there is an instinctive character to every believer having the Spirit, because of the unction.
WJO Do you think that holiness is an intrinsic state and righteousness is the intrinsic feature of that state? It is not exactly optional, it is intrinsic, because of a state of holiness.
DMW That is very good; so it is by love practically and there is a manifestation as we are formed in Christ; He becomes the root of life in our souls; so as to live in us, so to speak. It is after the kind of Man who is righteous - “Jesus Christ the righteous”. Then we are referred to as “holy brethren”; and the result of that is that we maintain the rights of God in our souls and in our circle of responsibility.
SWS I was just thinking as you were speaking about the link between holiness, righteousness and sanctification. There is the verse “Be ye holy, for I am holy”, 1 Pet 1: 16. That side of holiness is seen in the saints through sanctification, and righteousness is expressed thereby. I do not know if that is a good way to put it, but you think of God’s work, and the work of the Holy Spirit to sanctify. There is such a thing as practical sanctification. So we can be found in a state of holiness, whereby righteousness is expressed.
DMW It is “sanctification of the Spirit” (1 Pet 1: 2), that is the Holy Spirit. I want to raise this because, while we probably will not go through any other struggle to the extent of what has gone before us, there were certain things established (as a result of conflict in 1890), and the maintaining of righteousness, or the rights of God, is sometimes based on what has already been gone through. Eternal life may not be very well understood. The expression has not its application to heaven exactly, or to eternity really, so we cannot understand it very well by taking the words literally; it has to do with what may be known here on earth. The scriptures speak of “the coming age” (Luke 18: 30), which is the world to come, where eternal life will be public because of the reign of Him who is “the eternal life”, 1 John 1: 2; 5: 20. So I think understanding that a little better is helpful. I do not think it has anything to do with mere existence - when God breathed into Adam the breath of life, existence began for man, whether man would be with God or without God in that existence.
SWS The verse suggested is very helpful. Mr Darby’s note in verse 9 helps, “but ye are not in flesh but in Spirit”, when we consider this matter of righteousness and the part the Holy Spirit has in it. He does note that there is a difficulty in putting a large or small ‘S’, but he says, ‘It is clearly the state and characteristic of the believer; but it is so by the presence of the Spirit’. And so true righteousness can only be realised when the saints are moving in a right state. That is a result of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, moving and encouraging the saints, do you think?
DMW Therefore, we get in John 4 the Spirit as a gift from the Lord as “a fountain of water, springing up into eternal life” (where the Lord is); it is by faith, v 14. When the Lord Jesus reigns publicly in righteousness it is going to characterise the earth where sin and death have had their place. But they are subdued by His power then, and Satan bound for a thousand years. And this is why I think it is right to say that eternal life underlies the service of God, because evil must be subdued in us; it has already been subdued by the Lord Jesus at the cross, and judged by God when Christ was made sin; and death has not to affect us as it affects man. Why? Because the Lord Jesus, as a holy Man - and this was brought out this morning - offered Himself without spot and blemish for us in order to dispossess death, which was the righteous judgment of God upon sin - this will be actual in the millennium. So eternal life has its application to the place of testimony, where sin and death are extant. Consequently, the believer, in the victory of eternal life, which is what God desires for all of us, can proceed into what is spiritual in response. Does that not have to have its place in understanding the work of Christ at the cross, and understanding the rights of God?
SWS That is helpful. You used the expression that it underlies the service, and I think that the reference to what Christ accomplished and secured at the cross is extremely important to that because it is all founded in Him. But without that work, we could never have part in that.
DMW That is why eternal life is now enjoyed in victory as having the gift of the Spirit; a well of living water springing up to where Christ is now. But we are still here where He is rejected, but will reign. Therefore, it says in the end of the verse in Romans 5, “grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. So even now the saints, in the gain of eternal life, anticipate the millennium. Being in the gain of what the Lord Jesus did, dispossessing us of death, relieving us of the pressure of death as a penalty, and subduing evil, we are free from the bondage of sin and death. He defeated the devil; the devil had “the might of death” (Heb 2: 14) because of God’s judgment upon sin, and man in the flesh, but not now on the believer; and in the millennium persons will be delivered from that. Even though sin and death will still be here, eternal life will be manifested publicly; sin and death will not be reigning. The saints then will be relieved of the pressure of death, and they will actually be free without the devil threatening, because he will be bound for a thousand years. The saints bear the testimony of eternal life now on the earth in the circle of fellowship where conditions of eternal life are to be maintained in righteousness.
SWS It is one of the key characteristics of the millennium, the kingdom in that day, that righteousness will reign. Righteousness is not reigning now; it does in the hearts of the saints; so morally you could say that the kingdom is being worked out now, and that there is evidence of it in the saints, but in that day it will be a literal thing. Think of that - righteousness reigning! That is a precious thing.
DMW So “righteousness, and peace, and joy” is the present character of the kingdom of God, and it is in the Spirit, Rom 14: 17.
LEO What can you say as to the pathway of righteousness that believers have before them? The psalm says, “Righteousness shall go before him, and shall set his footsteps on the way”, or the footnote reads, ‘shall set itself in the way of his steps’. I was just thinking that following Christ in righteousness is fully marked out with righteousness; and there is nothing that would turn us from His path leading us to the Father. Is that right, that everything the Lord has done has been through setting forth righteousness? I think this is repeating what has also been said earlier, but I am just helping my own thoughts in bringing in that verse.
SWS I think what you say is exactly right, and the way you emphasise that a particular pathway has been marked out for us. It is not our own pathway; it is not something we are left to decide for ourselves; it has been clearly marked out. And that should be a real comfort and encouragement to the saints. What a help, dearly beloved, to realise that as in Him it is clearly marked out! He has gone that way; it is apparent. I like the way that you put that; it has been marked out for us, that way of righteousness.
LEO It is the mind of God that has marked it out, and the Lord Jesus in full obedience to the mind of God has walked it.
SWS That is very good. God has marked it out; I think you see that in verse 13: “Righteousness shall go before him”. It has been clearly marked. Christ Himself did the will of God, and not His own will; He perfectly expressed the way of righteousness that was clearly marked out by God Himself. He has walked it, He has demonstrated how it is to be done, He has demonstrated that path itself; everything is found in Him. Well, what a wonderful thought! It refers to Him as a model; it refers to us walking in His steps. I think it all relates to this, this path of righteousness that God has marked out; and He has provided His beloved Son to show us the way. He did so, He walked that pathway perfectly, demonstrating exactly the way in which we are to go; and I think that is so precious to think of.
LEO Do you think that could help our own understanding of the joy God would feel? We have mentioned that He has been uncompromised, He has not changed, but this One walking in righteousness, in perfection, the Lord Jesus, finding followers: if we were to walk here in this world in righteousness, that would bring similar joy to the heart of God, do you think? Do you think it has been long-desired, the walk of righteousness?
SWS That is to be seen in the saints. Of course individually we each have a responsibility in that way; but then it is a wonderful thing to consider how we can encourage and help another along the way, to walk that path of righteousness just like He did.
DMW Would that be in the Spirit?
LEO Fully in the Spirit, do you think; there would not be anything of ourselves in that? It is a matter of accepting the Spirit’s power and being subject to it?
DMW That is helpful to think of it that way. “The kingdom of God is … righteousness, and peace, and joy”: is that not seen in the Spirit coming out in the saints? As these vessels of humiliation are His, then He could not lead or guide in any other way than that which Christ took. So we do not have it in actuality, in perfection, but we have the Spirit of it, we have the Spirit Himself; would that be right? It will not actually occur until that last verse we read in Romans 8 - when the body is quickened, then actuality will replace faith.
KRO Just to add to that, you brought before us recently the matter of being “in Christ”. If we are in the Spirit, and in Christ as part of the sanctified, it all crystalises as to the distinctiveness of that part the assembly has in righteousness?
SWS It is really a positional thought; it is the position or standing we have before God in righteousness, on the basis of what Christ has accomplished and secured; but then there is to be that corresponding state, and we often have that before us. And I think the verses which you suggested as to the Spirit would help us about that. Again, Mr Darby’s note is helpful, bringing in the state which is the result of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the believer. I think that is helpful, but to realise that state is to correspond with the position and standing we have before God. That is a very practical way to view things, and to take soundings as to where we are - does our state correspond with that dignified position that we have before God as in Christ? It is quite a challenging question to ask ourselves.
LMH I wondered if the verse in Hebrews 2 which we read, “for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren”, has to do with that, that the Lord is glad to call His brethren those who are found on a righteous basis before God. I am thinking of the privileged position that would bring: do we live up to that? The Lord not being ashamed to call us brethren is a testing thing, is it not? We can know the position is secure if we know Him.
SWS “He that sanctifies and those sanctified” - it is assumed; but it is for that reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren. But then again there is that exercise - or should be - and desire to be found in correspondence with that.
DMW I wonder whether in one sense this verse does address any responsibility. In the synoptic gospels, the Lord refers to His brethren - not brethren in the flesh, He does that more than once too - but His followers. Others would say at one point, when He was rather interrupted, perhaps, that His mother and His brethren were outside the circle where He was speaking; and His response was that these are my brethren “who hear the word of God and do it”, Luke 8: 21. Now that is the area of responsibility, is it not? But would Hebrews 2 be the area of liberty in view of assembly response to the Father? It was His desire to make the Father known; but that is not really the same responsible place that He refers to in the synoptic gospels, is it? These referred to in Hebrews 2 are all one company, just like Christ.
SWS Mr Darby’s notes are so helpful; it says as to “those sanctified” that it is ‘Simply the character of the persons without reference to done or doing’. I think that is really helpful. So we are to be in the enjoyment of that, but it is important to realise that if we have not understood the responsible side of that, how could we be in the enjoyment of it? That has always been the challenge to me, and it is something to be exercised about; but do not wait until the Lord’s day morning to be exercised about it.
DMW I think it is good to lay hold of these things. It says, “Lay hold of eternal life”, 1 Tim 6: 12. It is not something future laid up for us; I think it is not allowing death as a penalty to occupy us, not allowing evil to have its place characteristically in me. So the Lord defeated the devil at the cross. Consequently, eternal life was a result of Him who is the eternal life dispossessing death by going into it Himself for us, and annulling the devil who is the author of evil. While eternal life is what we enter into and lay hold of, it is in Him: He is that eternal life; it consists in Him, but practically, we are in the gain of what is in Him, appreciate it and have it there in Him, apprehending it in faith by the Spirit; “He that has the Son has life”, 1 John 5: 12. Does this support the view of what you say, and what Mr Darby says in his footnote, as to the character? On Lord’s day morning, especially following the Supper, we respond according to a new order of mankind in the last Adam; we are just like Him in manhood, we are just like Him: the sanctifier and the sanctified are all of one lot.
SWS That line of the hymn was referred to this morning in someone’s response -
Sons loved and loving … (Hymn 90).
I think that really expresses the thought in simplicity.
DMW So actually, we will be conformed to God’s Son in glory. What was hidden in the Old Testament was the church’s union with Christ, and adoption individually into the family of God. Those were two things that were hidden in the Old Testament, and also to some extent the exaltation of Christ, even though you get it pictured, in Solomon, for example, the offspring of David. So God’s thoughts spiritually, which we can now enter into, as saved by grace through faith (Eph 2: 8), are according to the order of mankind set on in the Lord Jesus, and secured to us through death. The life that He took here in responsibility and obligation, is the same life that we have; only He was holy (“the holy thing”), and we are not. He laid that life down sacrificially for us to bring us into something far better and superior, and new; and we have come into that based on His resurrection. His resurrection made it effective for us.
KRO Does that tie with the scripture, “he that sanctifies and those sanctified are all of one”? Sanctification and holiness are very much key. For example, in the beginning of Romans, the thought overlays holiness and sanctification.
DMW Just a word on that: this scripture in Hebrews 2 does not contemplate us becoming holy: it contemplates us as holy, I think.
SWS It is interesting the way that it is put because it shows that the thoughts of Sanctifier and sanctified merge together ultimately in what is for God. That is the point: “he that sanctifies and those sanctified are all of one”; are all of one. It includes the thought of being one, but there is more to it: it is not only that the Sanctifier and those sanctified are one, they are “of one”. And I think that helps us to understand the fulness of this scripture, that it is the realisation of what God has purposed in His own heart and mind, and what He has secured through Christ, the Sanctifier, and what He finds in His people, the sanctified, for Himself. It is all for Himself, all of one.
DMW It is all the same kind, that is the thought; it is like the seed in Genesis, there was a seed for this and a seed for that; one seed. These hidden things of God are in spite of us. Is that why it is grace and not law? The very thing for each one of us, and together, is to be more and more in the consciousness of it.
Denton
22nd October 2023
List of initials (all local in Denton) –
L M Hibbert, K R Oliver, L E Oliver, W J Oliver, S W Selman, D M Welch