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Scripture Reading: Romans 6:11-18

The World Needs Righteous People

Intro.

1. Righteous (dikaios): “in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God” (Thayer, 148)

2. None are righteous in the sense of absolute, sinless perfection, Rom. 3:10 (all have sinned, Ps. 14:1-3; Rom. 3:23).

-Yet, the Bible speaks of righteous people (Ps. 14:5): Abel, Heb. 11:4; Joseph, Matt. 1:19; Zacharias and Elizabeth, Luke 1:6 (“walking in all the commandments…”); Simeon, 2:25; John, Mark 6:20… How can this be?

3. God is the Justifier of those who have faith in Jesus, Rom. 3:26.

a. Faith is accounted for righteousness, Rom. 4:5-8.

b. Obedient Christians enslaved to righteousness, Rom. 6:13, 17-22.

4. Righteous are scarcely (“with difficulty”) saved, 1 Pet. 4:18.

5. Practice righteousness to be righteous, 1 John 2:29; 3:7.

I. THE WORLD NEEDS RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE.

A. To Pray Earnestly, James 5:16.

1. Relies on God, not himself (Phil. 4:13, 19).

2. Are we practicing prayer?

B. To Lead Uprightly, Prov. 29:2, 4; cf. 1 Tim. 2:1-2.

1. Upright, just leaders in government, in the church, in the home.

2. cf. Israel’s kings (righteous and wicked).

C. In Times of Trial, Prov. 24:16 (10).

1. Righteous will fight and will not quit, Eph. 6:10-13; Gal. 6:9.

2. Hears God’s warnings and takes precautions, Ezek. 3:21.

D. To Live with Integrity, Prov. 11:3; 20:7 (innocence).

1. Not forsaken and his children are blessed, Ps. 37:25-26.

2. Are you ready to be judged by your integrity? Ps. 7:8

E. To Worship Reverently, Prov. 29:6 (John 4:24; Rev. 1:17).

1. God wants holy hands lifted up to him, 1 Tim. 2:8.

2. He knows our heart and conduct in worship, cf. Mal. 1:12-14.

F. To Help those in Need, Prov. 29:7.

1. To sow to the Spirit without weariness, Gal. 6:8-10.

2. To help our brethren is to serve Christ, Matt. 25:34-40.

G. To Oppose Sinners and their Sin, Prov. 28:1; 29:27; Eph. 5:8-12.

H. To Judge Righteously, John 7:24.

1. To choose between moral good and evil (cf. Messiah, Isa. 7:15).

2. We must use the God’s truth to judge righteous judgment, cf. 1 Cor. 6:4-6.

I. To Protect Against Condemnation, Matt. 5:13; Gen. 18:23-24; cf. Luke 18:7-8.

Conclusion

1. Will be filled if we hunger and thirst for righteousness, Matt. 5:6.

a. We must seek the righteousness of God first, Matt. 6:33.

b. The person who practices righteousness is righteous, 1 John 3:7.

2. We are not of God if we do not practice righteousness, 1 John 3:10.

3. Gospel invitation: Start practicing righteous (become a servant of righteousness) by obeying the gospel from the heart, Rom. 6:17-18. Then, live righteously (Titus 2:12).

By: Joe R. Price

Posted March 15, 2022