Entering Into God’s Presence:- Knowing God Through His Roles & Titles

God is Our Righteousness (Sphere of Celebration)

To Study and Ponder

• “For the kingdom of God is ... a matter of ... righteousness, peace and joy” (Rom 14:17, emphasis added).

• One of God’s eight “covenantal names” is Yahweh-Tsidkenu - “the LORD is Our Righteousness” found in Jeremiah 23:5-6; 33:16, referring to the future Messiah and to Jerusalem. It means, “the LORD is righteous”; “the LORD our Righteousness”; “the LORD my righteousness,” because the Hebrew root, tsidkenu, means “straight right; righteous; just; justify.” This title represents God’s covenant to deal with men under the ideas of righteousness, justification, and acquittal.

• The key Greek word for ‘righteous’ is dikaios which has the understanding of being without prejudice or partiality– “innocent, faultless, guiltless.”(ONLINE BIBLE) The related words for ‘righteousness’ refer to being to be in right relationship, approved by God, having “integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness”. Righteousness means thinking, feeling, and acting in ways that are right.

• God’s perfect righteousness contrasts with our universal unrighteousness. The Scriptures affirm that “No one is righteous— not even one” (Romans 3:10), but “The LORD is righteous in everything he does” (Psalm 145:17). Indeed, God’s righteousness “reaches to the highest heavens... Who can compare with you, O God?” (Psalm 71:19).

• When we consider this aspect of God’s character, we are confronted with our great need for his intervention in our life, a need which is met at the cross of Jesus. This Jesus is the one who “God presented ... as the sacrifice for sin. ... This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, ... God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.” (Romans 3:25-26).

• He is not just righteous, He is our RIGHTEOUSNESS! He makes us righteous. This name is His covenant commitment to make us innocent, faultless, right with Him, able to share His divine nature! (2 Peter 1:4)

  • -  For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21

  • -  God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 1Corinthians 1:30

  • -  “I am the gate for the sheep. ... Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. John 10:7,9

  • -  Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. Isaiah 1:18

• God is in right relationship with everyone whether they are in right relationship with Him or not. He is without partiality or prejudice; He holds no grudge or bitterness. He can therefore judge justly. Right action and judgement comes from right relationship, being without partiality or prejudice. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Psalm 97:2b As God is in right relationship with us without any partiality or prejudice he will act righteously towards us. Right relationship leads to right action and right action leads to right relationship.

  - For the righteous Lord loves justice. The virtuous will see his face. Psalm 11:7
  - ...righteousness will bring peace.Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever. Is. 32:17

• We are to be in right relationship firstly with God and then with others.
  - Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you

everything you need. Matthew 6:33

Memory/Meditation
Lower Grades:The LORD is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. Psa 145:17 (NLT)

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Romans 3:22-23 (NLT)

Middle Grades: “For the time is coming,” says the LORD, “when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this will be his name: ‘The LORD Is Our Righteousness.’. Jeremiah 23:5-6a (NLT)

So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (NLT)

Upper Grades: Powerful is your arm! Strong is your hand! Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants. Psalm 89:13-14

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” Romans 1:16-17 (NLT)