It is not so uncommon to hear people make statements like “no one can be righteous”, even including some Christians. Upon a superficial view of this statement one may think this is borne out of scriptures but as Christians it’s good to ‘rightly divide the Word of Truth’ in order not to mislead anyone and let anyone have a bleak view of the Scriptures. This statement seems to be out of Paul’s statement to the Romans when he quoted the Psalmist,
“…As it is written: ‘there is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.”
Roman 3:10-11
Now a careful look at the verse reveals that the writer was describing a state not predicting the future. It said “there is no one righteous” not “no one can be righteous” or “no one will be righteous”. It goes further to say that “no one who seeks God”, from the scripture, the righteous is the one who seeks God. Like walking in darkness, one can only walk rightly with the presence of light and the brightness of the light gives great illumination which reduces the commission of error. We will talk more on this later. With this base set let’s take a look at the Promotion of Righteous.
Promotion as used here means the elevation from a lower altitude to a higher one or simply progression. This write up wouldn’t seek to throw much light as to what righteousness (which may be treated in other posts) but with a Christian theology, a simple definition is rightly captured in the following scripture:
“But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”
Roman 3:21-26, emphasis mine
From the verse, a righteous person is one who have faith (believes) in Christ and has a desire to do what is right for God.
As Christ proclaimed that he did not come for the righteous but the sinners. This cannot be misinterpreted to mean “he came for the sinners to let them remain in their sins” but rather enable them come out of that sin and appear before God (as earlier indicated, to seek God). Take note, God is righteous and it takes only the righteous to appear before him and not be put to death. That’s why most of the time in the Old Testament, most people who saw God and remained alive, were surprised because within them they saw they deserved death. So for a sinner to appear before God and not die means there must be a deeper work which has been done behind the scene.
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
1 John 1:5-7
The above verse reveals a paradox that is no sinner can walk with God because He is light and that sinners need God to be forgiven of their sins and cleansed from it. How can this two become possible without inferring a contradiction; that’s where we need the Jesus factor. As the verse reveals, God is light that is He illuminate the path of the righteous to see well to avoid error. That is why it is said that no one can be righteous without God. Now let’s take a closer look at the Promotion of the Righteous.
“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.”
Proverbs 4:18
THE LIGHT OF DAWN
The first stage of the righteous is the Light of Dawn. The moment one gives his life to Christ, the light of God starts shining on that person because the person has appeared in God’s presence. Before one puts his faith (trust) in Christ, it is as if he is walking in darkness, without any iota of light, such one stumbles in darkness: “The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.” (Proverbs 4:19). It becomes very difficult for such a one to even find his path and walk towards God. Such one needs help. Now Christ enters the darkness with His light, the sinner now sees his true state in his current state and how wretched he is. Christ then offers his hand to lead him out. The moment the sinner holds the hand (accepts Christ as Lord and personal Saviour) the journey then begins. This is what Paul describes in Ephesians:
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.”
Ephesians 2:1-5, emphasis mine
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Colossians 1:13, emphasis mine.
So now the sinner becomes righteous, his path is now being lead towards God, the person now seeks God. At the initial stage of the journey, the light that appears before the person may not seem all that clear. He may once in a while stumble in his path. Should this prevent this person from continuing in his journey as a believer of Christ? No, it means you need to walk closer to the light since it’s not all that clear on your path, it appears as if it is dawn, the sun is now coming out and things are not all that clearly seen.
…WHICH SHINES BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER…
Now as the righteous person continues in his walk with Christ, he starts to behave properly. He sees much clearer now because the sun of dawn is now fast approaching morning. We now begin to see signs of righteousness in the actions of the person. It’s now no longer saying “I believe in Christ” but also certain decisions and actions of the person comes to prove this. At this stage the frequency of sin reduces, though the person may not act perfectly all the time. This is because now the person comes to a much clearer understanding of his walk with Christ that is “the old is gone, the new has come”. The person may not act perfectly because the path keeps becoming brighter. Though not perfect, but better than previous. Previous actions become distasteful; hence it is stopped for a better alternative. Paul enlists some few actions which prove this point:
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbour, for we are all members of one body.
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”Ephesians 4:25-32
There is a danger one needs to take note of at this stage, which is the trap of “being judgemental”. One should understand that he/she was once upon a time behaving wrongly and therefore needs to be merciful towards others.
“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbour for his good, to build him up.”
Roman 15:1-3
UNTIL FULL DAY
The last stage is Full Day, in other words Perfection. At full day, the sun shines at it might and everything is seen clearly without any iota of darkness. At this stage of righteousness one is standing in the very presence of God and every secret is revealed, no hypocrisy (shadows). Such one does things to please only God but not men, because he is standing in the very presence of God. He doesn’t feel the need to apologise to men because all his actions are known to God and it is to Him he answers to. He doesn’t fear the actions men may take against him because he is preoccupied with pleasing God alone for to Him he answers to. Paul makes it simple in these words:
“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Galatians 1:10
His actions are without fear or favour but what is “Good, Acceptable and Perfect Will of God” (Romans 12:2). Before he takes an action, he ask three successive questions, is it Good? If it’s good, is it Acceptable to God at this time? And if it is acceptable, will it be the very Perfect option available? Such a person does not feel the need to change because he takes the perfect action. Such one is “unresting”, “unhasting”, “nor wanting” “nor wasting”. That is what Paul described in the following statement:
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:1, Emphasis mine.
Also
“but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”
1 Corinthians 13:10-12, Emphasis mine.
At that moment one becomes like Christ. There are also some warning the Apostle gave to people who get to this stage:
“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.”
1 Corinthians 10:12
Also
“For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they then fall away, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.”
Hebrews 6:4-6
All the stages and progression above comes to play as one increases his walk with Christ. One should see the Word of God as the light of God which shines on our path. As David made it clear in the Psalm:
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Psalm 119:105
It is dependent on everyone who requires this kind of promotion to put in great amount of dedication in the study of the word of God and much practice.
But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 5:14, emphasis mine
May God help us in our walk with Him in this Earthly life.
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