Righteousness Defined

[votivesoul]

Originally Posted by Lafon

This was also the manner I (sort of) understood righteousness for a very long while. But after carefully noting the manner in which it (with the exception of the element of "just") conflicted with the definition given in Strong's Concordance, I knew I must take action to reconcile this.

Well, Strong's is not the end all, be all of Bible lexicons. Other very good Bible dictionaries exist. While Strong's has its place and merits, I would never recommend using it as the sole resource for studying the original languages of the Scripture.

Strong's and I could NOT both be correct, but who's wrong?

See above. Additionally, however, there might be more agreement between you and Strong's than at first determined. See below:

As I fasted, prayed, and searched the Scriptures in an attempt to comprehend whatever esoteric implications might be "hidden" in this word, then it seemed to strike me like a jolt of lightning ..... "moral innocence, purity, and perfection" might be said to best describe the attributes of the Almighty's character; whereas "equality, justice, fairness, and impartiality" seemed to be more fitting as a principle, or rule that God established to direct the manner in which He would "administer and regulate" all of His judgments.

When looking at the Greek term most commonly translated as righteous/ness in the New Testament, the definition I gave is accurate. However, when looking at the Hebrew word most commonly translated as righteous/ness in the Old Testament, the definition you gave comes to the forefront.

Do we then conclude that the Bible's meaning of righteous/ness differs according to the covenant in place at the time? I don't believe that's the case.

Rather, I think there is great unity between the two (apparently different) meanings. Here's how I reconcile them:

The character of God (i.e. that He is righteous, or morally perfect, pure, and innocent), which can be imputed to a believer by faith, causes God to be equitable, just, fair, and impartial, to wit, than any believer who has been made righteous by God through faith, will consciously act in the same manner, vis a vis, they will be equitable, just, fair, and impartial as well, thus demonstrating that the character of God, i.e. His righteousness, has truly taken root and been developed in such a person (Consider Ephesians 4:24, in which we are told that the new man of a Christian believer is created "after God in righteousness...").

We see then, no real disagreement between saying that righteous and righteousness ought to be understood as either moral perfection, purity, and innocence or in the way you describe it.

They are hand in glove with each other, reflecting one another, proving one another. An equitable, just, fair, and impartial man is only so because his moral character in Christ has been perfected, purified, and declared innocent by God through faith.

Likewise, a man demonstrates that his character is righteous (i.e. morally perfect, pure, and innocent) by acting equitably, justly, fairly, and impartially.

It's the heads and tails of a single coin.

Upon discovery that righteousness prevails as the very foundational principle upon which the knigdom of heaven has been built (Psalms 89:14 and 97:2), and that Psalm 145;17 advises that ALL of God's works are done in accordance with this same principle/rule, then I felt compelled to abandon the manner in which I had previously esteemed righteousness, and accepted it as I've noted here (i.e., God MUST exercise impartiality [equality] in His administeration of justice [judgments], without exceptions).

Yes, indeed, God does so adminster his justice. But why? Because of the moral attributes assigned to Him by the Word, i.e. that His character and nature are innately perfect, pure, and innocent.

One begets the other.

Think of it this way:

1.) There is a process of being made righteous, i.e. of becoming righteous

2.) There is a state of being righteous (once so made by God through process)

3.) There is a a manner of acting righteously (i.e. the outgrowth of the process and state)

These all happen sequentially, but then, once they've happened, they become a cyclical reinforcement for each other. By being made righteous, a person obtains a righteous status with God. By obtaining such a status, they go about doing righteous things. By doing righteous things they maintain their righteous state. By maintaining their righteous state before God, they justify God and prove that He was righteous in initially justifying them upon conversion (i.e. making them righteous through the process of faith -- See, e.g. Romans 3:26).