Ozark Christian Living

No true child of GOD would question that "HE is righteous," but many a churchman impugn HIM regularly in their unrighteousness.  John, under the HOLY SPIRIT'S direction, takes us through the back door of effect to reveal the cause of genuine righteousness. 

"And be found in HIM, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of CHRIST, the righteousness which is of GOD by faith:"  Those born of HIM not only have an aversion to sin, but an equal and overwhelming attraction to righteousness.  "HE restoreth my soul: HE leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for HIS name's sake."  All of our acts can be traced to our basis of right and none of us think ourselves wrong at the genesis of what we "doeth": "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: ..." but the LORD states in Isaiah that: "... all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; ..."  The question at the end of the day has to be: Is the righteousness you "doeth" defined of GOD or man?  Be forewarned, the latter will be found wanton in that day when all lexicons come to final revision.  "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."  'Wrongeousness' will pass neither the vernacular nor my spell checker, but it is a definitive term in Heaven.
Do you really have a heart and mind for real righteousness?  Below are some indicators to help gauge this of which JESUS mentioned in HIS preaching:

• External righteousness does not murder, internal righteousness does not hate.

• External righteousness does not fornicate or adulterate, internal righteousness does not lust.

• External righteousness is clever and fraught with guile, internal righteousness does not lie.

• External righteousness limits vengeance to the law, internal righteousness does not retaliate at all.

• External righteousness loves its friends and hates its enemies, internal righteousness loves both.

• External righteousness parades itself before men, internal righteousness parades in the prayer closet.

Are you "...born of HIM"?  If so, the Bible demands you live out "... the righteousness of GOD which is by faith of JESUS CHRIST ..." because HE is: "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."