Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (Romans 10:1-3 KJV)
There are two kinds of righteousness every human being must be aware of. It is a must because failure to know this is highly catastrophic both in this world and in that to come. For they being ignorant of… and beating about the bush in fruitless effort to establish… Friend, do not be ignorant. After Job had been through hell and was yet undelivered, God responded to his foolish words. Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who [is] this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? (Job 38:1-2 KJV). So the Proverbs writer said: "Also, [that] the soul [be] without knowledge, [it is] not good;" (Proverbs 19:2 KJV). So every human being must know this: believers and unbelievers alike. Did God not say: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6 KJV)?
What is Righteousness?
Any of the under listed definitions are acceptable.
- The quality of having a right standing before God
- Being right all the time
- Being acceptable to God
- Being without fault or blame before God
- Being in conformance to God's rules and commands
The Two Kinds of Righteousness
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS (1), and going about to establish THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS (2), have not submitted themselves unto THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD (1). (Romans 10:1-3 KJV)
Two kinds of righteousness are mentioned there. What are they?
- God's righteousness
- Their own righteousness
Let us begin to note some things from what we are told from the passage. First thing is that it's a prayer of intercession for them to be saved. Who are the "them" that are desired to be saved?
Them that are "ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God"
Good!
It therefore means that the "their own righteousness" is the kind found with them that are not yet saved. Correct? "Yes!"
Thus, from this point, we shall call the "their own righteousness" SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS and the other one: GOD'S RIGHTEOUNESS.
So what are the two kinds of righteousness we have?
Forgotten? No.
Alright,
- Self righteousness (also called one's own righteousness), and
- God's righteousness
Attributes of the Two Kinds of Righteousness
We are not through with the text yet.
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (Romans 10:1-3 KJV)
We shall begin to see the attributes of the two kinds of righteousness from this portion of text. Remember we have learnt one attribute already. Can you recollect? Ooh!!!
Alright, we said it's common to them that are not saved yet. Now you remember? Yes!
ATTRIBUTE 1:
Self righteousness is found with the unsaved, while God's righteousness is found with the saved
Now you should understand why they are called saints, don't you?Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (1 Corinthians 1:2 KJV)
We have seen that from the above text. Now some may ask, "do you mean a born again person cannot be self-righteous?" The answer is "Yes", even though he may not know, and thus continue to boast in self righteousness.
It is clear from the above text (Romans) that God's righteousness simply requires that they (unbelievers) have "submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God" which a believer has done at salvation as it is seen in the latter verses of Romans 10. So submit today unto God's righteousness and receive it! This takes us to attribute 2.
ATTRIBUTE 2:
God's righteousness only needs a man's submission
And… have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
That is, the "self" in self righteousness, if submitted unto God, will be replaced by God to become God's righteousness. Simple substitution of mathematics!!
Humility is needed! Only submission is needed. No other requirement!
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
(Isaiah 1:18 KJV)
ATTRIBUTE 3:
You keep "going about" (busy) to sustain Self Righteousness but God's righteousness keeps you praising
…and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of GodYou become a laborious man "going about to establish" your acclaimed righteousness. You must keep looking for what to do and what you must not do lest you lose the righteousness.
For we which have believed do enter into rest… (Hebrews 4:3 KJV)
For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his. (Hebrews 4:10 KJV)We did nothing to get the righteousness, so no labouring about to attain or sustain the same!
ATTRIBUTE 4
Self righteousness keeps seeking to be established, but God's righteousness is rooted in the unfailing God
…and going about to ESTABLISH their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God
Huh! There is enough proof here that self righteousness is not "established". It is not firm. It is so shaky. It is not assuring, not enduring. It has no guarantee. It is not stable. Therefore the self righteous man must keep "going about" seeking to establish their own righteousness, instead of submitting unto what is already built – Christ, the Cornerstone.
Don't be deceived, sometimes these people are very zealous because Paul already said "I bear them record that they have a zeal of God" but their zeal is towards establishing their righteousness with God. Do you see a man zealously striving to get God to accept him? Do you see a man trying all strength to get himself
right with God, trying to maintain righteousness by striving to keep all of God's law? You have seen a Pharisee in active service. He is not born again. And if he is, then he's being self-righteous in his mind. Is it wrong for a Christian to desire to be obedient to God? Of course not! Because that is the emblem of Christianity before the world. Righteous by God's standard, and living godly in this present world (Titus2:12). But when he wants to attain it by his strength or wants to sustain the credit he did not acquired by strength, he is being self righteous.
…for by strength shall no man prevail. (1samuel 2:9)
ATTRIBUTE 5
Knowledge is the way out of self righteousness, not a work-your-way-out thing
…that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but NOT ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE. For they being IGNORANT…
The difference between the saved and the unsaved is knowledge and the product of knowledge. Quitting self righteousness, the man must first be aware that there is another establish-free, busy-free, praise-full, and secure righteousness he only needs to submit to.
This is because there are many laws of Moses to be kept, and "of making many books [there is] no end; and much study [is] a weariness of the flesh" (Ecclesiastes 12:12): Such that the reader could easily "drift away" and continue to go about to establish his own righteousness, and hence despise (not submit to) God's righteousness.
Hmmm… Dear reader, don't go away, there is more you need to know about these two kinds of righteousness so you can make a more informed decision as to where you wish to stand.
Let me at this time do a simple test for you to know how well you've been following this article.
Look at this verse very well
And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us. (Deuteronomy 6:25 KJV)
Now, what kind of righteousness is being talked about in the verse you just read?
Thinking…
And it shall be OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS…Hmmm…
Alright, the answer? Hmm…
"…And going about to establish THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS…" hmmm
Definitely, this is self righteousness. It cannot be God's righteousness if it is myself that went about to establish it. Is God a thief? Why will He claim what I laboured for?
"And it shall be our righteousness, IF we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us". (Deuteronomy 6:25 KJV)
Number two reason is that it is not a stable cornerstone righteousness because it is only IF we observe to do ALL.
Number Three: I must establish it because it is not assured. I must do ALL, which means I must have a zeal of God though it is not according to knowledge.
Hey! Hope this does not catch you in a hard way? If it does, you have been ignorant of God's righteousness so you never see it in this fashion. Thank God you didn't pass this article by this time. Let's move on and you'll understand more. Glory to Jesus!
Now, someone may ask or think "are you so bold to cancel out all that God commanded us in Moses' writings to keep His laws before we can be righteous, saying that righteousness can come without keeping the law?" Yes, but not me. The times did that. Hitherto revelations did. "Ha!"
See it yourself how as times passed on and things became clearer, we come to know this that
MOSES DESCRIBETH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS OF THE LAW, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. (Romans 10:5 KJV)Again, MOSES DESCRIBETH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS OF THE LAW
So Moses was describing the righteousness which is OF THE LAW, and what an excellent description that takes us to attribute 6.
ATTRIBUTE 6:
Self righteousness is "of the law", but God's righteousness is of Christ
For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. (Romans 10:4-5 KJV)
He's saying just as Moses describes the righteousness that is of the law, Christ is the end of the law for righteousness that Moses describes.
But God's righteousness is of Christ Jesus!
One may say, "No o! God's righteousness is the law of Moses plus Christ Jesus o!"
Hmm! Don't confuse yourself man! Here as in other scriptures, it is clear that the writers describe these two things in contrast. Here, he puts an "end" to the law for righteousness as he introduces Christ into the picture. Hey! Read backwards and see…
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness… have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (Romans 10:3-4 KJV)
Christ is the "God's righteousness" they did not submit themselves to. The unbelieving Israelites despised Jesus. Jesus was as a stumbling block and rock of offense to them. They were saying, "How can this man I know his father and mother be my Lord?" and therefore chose to stick to "Moses" for justification.
Will ye also be his disciples? Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; BUT WE ARE MOSES' DISCIPLES. We know that God spake unto Moses: [as for] this [fellow], we know not from whence he is. (John 9:27-29 KJV)
They took Jesus as "this fellow" yet He is God's righteousness.
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who OF GOD is made unto us wisdom, and RIGHTEOUSNESS, and sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV)
So Christ is God's righteousness in contrast to Moses' law
ATTRIBUTE 7:
Self righteousness is gotten by (keeping) Moses' Laws but God's righteousness is accessed by faith
It is explicit from the verse we read
…Righteousness to every one THAT BELIEVETH.
For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which DOETH those things shall live by them. (Romans 10:4-5 KJV)
Good description from Moses everytime he emphasizes that you should DO KEEP all the laws. This is the righteousness that is OF THE LAW. But there is righteousness for "everyone that believes" irrespective of his past; regardless of his theological qualifications or pagan background! God's righteousness is RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR EVERYONE THAT BELIEVES. (No favouritism!)
For therein is the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD revealed from FAITH to FAITH: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17 KJV)
Here, you'll see again how this contrasts the past ways of righteousness where a man must keep the commandments first after then righteousness. In the way of faith, it is not so, because "the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them."(Galatians 3:12 KJV)
Haa? See it in another version:
But the Law does not rest on faith [does not require faith, has nothing to do with faith], for it itself says, He who does them [the things prescribed by the Law] shall live by them [not by faith]. [Lev. 18:5.](Galatians 3:12 AMP)
You cannot rest on your works and on God's at the same time. You can't rest on the law like the Pharisees and on faith of Christ at the same time.
My goodness! Are you flowing?
Do you now understand why scriptures says "For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified"? (Romans 2:13 KJV). Keep the law first, and then after you have kept it 100%, you may now be "just before God".
But by the way of faith, it is different:
The just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17)It starts by calling the man "just" before anything is done. The just shall live by faith.
ATTRIBUTE 8:
God's righteousness is not sought after, it is ATTAINED. It is not journeyed for, it is ARRIVED AT
"How come" you may say? Haha! "You did not embark on the journey of righteousness, yet you arrived at it? You flied?" "you did not seek after it, yet you attained it". Let's ask God those questions o… Eh!!
We already established it that you don't go about seeking to establish a righteousness that is not your own. Now we shall see that you did not master righteous acts before you were judged righteous.
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which FOLLOWED NOT AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS, have ATTAINED to RIGHTEOUSNESS, even the righteousness which is of faith.Did you see that?
But Israel, which FOLLOWED AFTER THE LAW OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, hath NOT ATTAINED TO THE LAW OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; (Romans 9:30-32 KJV)
But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. (Romans 10:20 KJV)
Did you notice the difference between the two? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.
Faith is through whom? Christ Jesus (their stumbling stone).
Never "follow after righteousness" by the law, because what you will be doing will be stepping out of the bounds of faith: stick to believing and produce righteous works because therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17 KJV)
Now, why should one get what he didn't seek for? This takes us to the next attribute on which we shall pause it.
ATTRIBUTE 9.
God's Righteousness is God's Gift
That is why it is free and freely given. That is why it is by grace. It is not on merit, so that no one can take credit. That is why it is unto praise. That is why it is establish-free. That is why it is all we have described it to be.
Let's wrap it up here. Can you recollect six of the 9 attributes of the two kinds of righteousness we have explained here? Come on, give it a try…
Self righteousness is for the unsaved, while God's righteousness is for the saved
God's righteousness only needs a man's submission
You keep "going about" (busy) to sustain Self Righteousness but God's righteousness keeps you praising
Self righteousness keeps seeking to be established, but God's righteousness is rooted in the unfailing God
Knowledge is the way out of self righteousness, not a work-your-way-out thing
Self righteousness is "of the law", but God's righteousness is of Christ
Self righteousness is gotten by (keeping) Moses' Laws but God's righteousness is accessed by faith
God's righteousness is not sought after, it is attained. It is not journeyed for, it is arrived at
God's righteous is God's GiftWow! You've got good brains.
It's clear today that God's righteousness is not just simpler, but better and as trustworthy as God; and that righteousness is Jesus Christ, so that God works in us today, so we live righteous and we give God's Christ His glory for every righteous act he does through us. Alleluia!
Leave you with these scriptures that testify about your new status if you have "submitted" unto God's righteousness. Delight in them and don't forget to give us your email so we could send you updates because this is only part 1 of the topic of two kinds of righteousness! We are not done yet!
Thank you!
It will be said of me, "Certainly, righteousness and strength are found in the LORD alone." All who are angry with him will come to him and be ashamed. All the descendants of Israel will be declared righteous, and they will praise the LORD.
(Isaiah 45:24-25 GW)
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this [is] his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
(Jeremiah 23:5-6 KJV)
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue [that] shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This [is] the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness [is] of me, saith the LORD.
(Isaiah 54:17 KJV)
