Spring 2001
The Value Of Righteousness
Jerry Hyde

"Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the scepter
of Thy kingdom is a right scepter. Thou lovest
righteousness and hatest wickedness: therefore God,
Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness
above Thy fellows." Psalm 45:-7

There are three kinds of righteousness. The first, the Lord despises. It is called “self-righteousness.” The Lord said that it is as filthy rags. Job's problem was that he was righteous in his own eyes. In the Scriptures, the Lord makes it clear that we do not have access to Him on the basis of our righteousness, nor our good works, but rather, through faith and dependency in the finished work of Jesus upon the cross.

The second kind of righteousness is “positional.” Through faith in Jesus, we are accepted in the beloved. The just Father sees us, not in our sin, but rather, through the blood of His Son who died as our substitute. We have access to His grace by Jesus’ precious blood, and in His Name. This is established in Romans 3:21-30.

Thirdly, there is the “outward righteousness” in which we live righteously, as a result of our faith in Jesus, and the submission of our lives to Him.

"Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous,
but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the
peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are
exercised thereby." Hebrews 12:11.

Here, righteousness is not a gift, but a fruit which is the result of our correct response to the testings and dealings of God in our lives. This is expressed in Revelation 19:7-8, which tells us that “the Bride has made herself ready.” This is not salvation, but the result of her spiritual growth after receiving the gift of salvation. It is granted to her to be arrayed in white linen which is the righteousness (the righteous acts) of the saints.

She is not only positionally righteous, but her actions are righteous. This is not the filthy rags of self-righteousness, but the result of a life unconditionally yielded and living out of submission to the King, who reigns within her heart. As a result, she will be entrusted with authority. Such a one will be given power with God and with man. This was told to Jacob when his name was changed to “Israel” in Genesis 32:28.

One who truly has the fruit of righteousness in their life is one who has been brought to the end of their own strength, or their sense of personal goodness, and has their identity in the Lord alone, and not in themselves, their own understanding, or ability.

It takes time for the Lord to bring us to from a self-centered life of independence, to one of dependence and trust in Him alone, and His faithfulness to get us through. Thus our Lord's words to Peter,

"When you were young, you went your own way, but when you
are old, you will yield yourself to another, who will carry you a
way you would not want, or choose." John 21:18 (my translation).

The Lord was showing Peter how he would glorify the Lord in his death. Peter, who had denied the Lord three times out of fear, was given such grace to go “this way of another,” that he could face the threat of execution in Acts chapter 12, asleep, unafraid, and without offense. When we can go through the unjust and difficult places in our lives without complaining, bitterness, resentment, and fear; allowing the Lord to order our steps, and to show forth the evidence of Himself through our responses to life's situations, that is righteousness.

This is part 1 on the value of righteousness. In the next segments we will consider at least three potential benefits for those who have this fruit in their lives:

(1) Potential for the Lord to work a personal deliverance from enemy activity against us.

(2) Potential for us to become more effective in our intercession for family, friends, and others.

(3) Potential to stand in the gap for the accomplishing of the Lord’s purposes and interests for Himself.