How does one become righteous?

Proverbs 10:21-32

What a contrast between the righteous and the fool, but how does one become righteous?  I’ve never understood why a person would begin reading a book in the last chapter or in the middle, so let’s start at the book of beginnings.  Abram lived in a culture much like many Western one's today, a people that worship many things, but not the only true God.  So when Abram, heard God speak to him he obeyed Him, we have this fact recorded in Genesis 15:6, “And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”  I believe we have found the right path, but the Scriptures tell us we all sin and fall short of God’s requirements, so how does one fix that problem?

The apostle Paul shares this vital information with us in 2 Corinthians 17-21, and the key is verse 21.  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

 I’ve always said Christianity is a “done” religion, whereas all others are based on “do” what one must do to earn God’s favor.  Christianity is centered in a relationship based on both faith and the grace of God, but where does that faith come from, the same place Abrams came from, God gave it to him, and he will give it to you if you ask.  Look with me at Romans 10:9-10, “ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”  So in the above, we have the answer to how does one become righteous?

How does one recognize a fool?  I read this on the net by Nathan Locksdale, and much of it hit home.

“The thing is it's hard for us to know whether someone is a fool or not because we've all done something foolish in the past no matter how wise or intelligent we are. There is also a difference between a fool (who always foolish things on a long-term basis) and somebody who acts a fool (someone who does foolish things once in a while). I will list the traits in bullet points so you will know what a long-term fool is:

• Someone who always makes mistakes and never learns from it

·       Someone with little knowledge who thinks they have a lot of knowledge and embarrasses themselves in front of people

·       A grown-up who behaved like an obnoxious child in public

·       Someone who doesn't know their limits spending their last pennies on things they don't need) Not thinking about the consequences before acting

• Someone who hates taking good advice that will help them

If these things in the bullet points are repeated every day, then that person is a fool. However, if it is a one-off thing, the person may not be a fool, but they are just committing a foolish act.”  I am so glad Nathan put in that last paragraph, for I’ve committed many foolish acts!  Now that is what Nathan said, and yet would it not be wise to look at what Nathan’s Creator has to say on the subject?

What does God call a fool?  “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” (Psalm 14:1)  Now it is important to understand that God can see into a persons heart, and you and I do not have that ability, it’s only when they speak that we get some insight into what is in their heart.  Jesus, while talking to the Scribes and Pharisees gave them seven “woes” in verse 16 we see what they are saying, and in verse 17 Jesus calls them blind fools.  “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ ¹⁷ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred?

Neither you nor I should ever call a brother/sister in Christ a fool, for if you do Jesus tells us we have endangered our self.  It is so important to recall that we all fall short, we are all a mess, and it is only God’s redeeming grace we hold on to.  The Cross looks foolish to the unbeliever, but it is the power of salvation.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice