"Seek first...his righteousness." (Matthew 6,33:XNUMX) Whose righteousness should we seek? According to God's justice! Only if we seek and find them will we be saved. Everything else is useless.

Where and how we do not find justice

It is very important where and how we look for them. Because many look for it in the wrong place, for example in God's law or through attempts at obedience. We will never find justice in this place and this way.

Not that God's justice isn't present there. The commandments are even God's righteousness. But we will never find them there.

God's perfect righteousness in the law

'You can say you are a Jew and feel safe because you have the law. You are proud of your relationship with God. From the law you know his will and can judge what is important.« (Romans 2,17:18-XNUMX NIV)

There is a clear reference here to the law and to the fact that God makes his will known to us in it. His will is the expression of his being. The Lord cannot be better than what He asks of us in the Ten Commandments. Therefore, in order to keep His commandments, we would have to be as good as God Himself.

»Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.« (1 John 3,7:119,138) »You are righteous, O LORD, and your decrees are right!« (Psalm 5:6,35) »And it becomes righteousness to us serve, if we are careful to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he commanded us.« (Deuteronomy 59,7:XNUMX) But »their feet run to evil and hasten to innocent blood shed; they harbor bad intentions; Desolation and destruction mark their path.« (Isaiah XNUMX:XNUMX)

Our only access to God's righteousness

Whoever keeps God's law is as righteous as God. Therefore, whoever wants to keep God's commandments needs divine character. While God's righteousness is in His law, it is not revealed to man through the law.

"Because I'm ashamed of it gospel not of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation unto every believer, first unto the Jew, then unto the Greek; because it will therein reveals the righteousness of God from faith to faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'" (Romans 1,16:17-XNUMX)

God's righteousness is revealed to man in the gospel, not in the law. It is present in the law, but because we are sinners it is not revealed to us through the law. Sin has so darkened our hearts that we do not see it there. That's why our eyes need illumination, and that's through the gospel. There we can find justice.

Revelation of God without law

"But now God has revealed his righteousness apart from the law, but in accordance with the statements of the law and the prophets." (Romans 3,21:XNUMX NLT) God's righteousness is revealed without the law. But how? By trusting Jesus Christ through the gospel, not through the law.

"For Christ is the end of the law of righteousness to everyone who believes." (Romans 10,4:XNUMX) Doesn't that mean exactly the same thing? We often lose sight of the point of this verse because we want to defend ourselves against those who claim that the law has been abolished and that Jesus brought the law to an end. That is why we say that in this verse the "end" means "the end" of the law. But what this verse really means is that Jesus is "the end of the law of righteousness" for us: Jesus makes us righteous. For we cannot obtain it by the law.

"For what the law could not do, because it was powerless through the flesh, God did, sending his Son in the likeness of the flesh to sin and for sin's sake, condemning sin in the flesh" (Romans 8,3)

Righteousness comes from the source of life

The law was for life, righteousness, holiness, and justification. It can't be all of that for us because of sin. What it cannot do, Jesus does for us. But if we look in the wrong place, we lose Jesus' righteousness.

Righteousness comes from the same source as life; one cannot be separated from the other:

“Is then the law against the promises of God? Far be it! For if there were a law that could give life, then righteousness would really come from the law.« (Galatians 3,21:XNUMX) »The wages of sin is death; but the bounty God's is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.« (Romans 6,23:XNUMX) We have always said that eternal life is a gift, but we have not always said that righteousness is a gift. Nevertheless, it is also a gift that we receive through Jesus Christ.

Why do we have to be given something so that we can live? Because the consequence of sin is death. If the law could give life, we would live by the law. An imperfect law that God could have replaced with a better law would have been meaningless. For if man cannot keep the imperfect law, how can he keep an even better one? No law is able to give life. So Jesus had to come for the law to be fulfilled in everyone who trusts in him.

Our own justice

How much justice do we find in the law? How much can we get out of him? If I view the law in the best light and as fully as possible, and also live it out, have I kept the law? no For my mind is darkened with sin. Man's understanding is not sufficient to comprehend the height and breadth of the law. Therefore man does not do justice to him. It is only our own righteousness, not God's righteousness, that we see in the law. We see ourselves in the law as best we can, but not God's face.

We often think we are doing the right thing. Then we find out that it wasn't right after all. If that had been God's righteousness, then God would be imperfect. Only in Jesus can we see God's righteousness. God is the gospel and the gospel is Jesus. Therefore no man can be justified by the law.

So it takes more than the law for us to understand God's justice and understand His law. This more is Jesus Christ, in whom "the whole fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily" (Colossians 1,9:XNUMX).

Sincerely wanted, but in vain

"Because they do not know the righteousness of God and seek to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to the righteousness of God." (Romans 10,3:9,13) This is about people who sincerely seek righteousness. Where? With yourself. Will you find anything? no “But Israel, which pursued the law of righteousness, did not reach the law. Why this? Because they did not seek righteousness by faith, but as if it came from works.« (Romans 32:XNUMX-XNUMX LU) They did not know Jesus' righteousness. They didn't want to believe Jesus or Paul, but wanted to be justified by the works of the law.

Found it through trust

"What shall we say to this? The Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have obtained righteousness, namely the righteousness that comes from faith.” (Romans 9,30:XNUMX LU) The Gentiles found what they were looking for because they believed and were not satisfied with their own righteousness like the Pharisees with their confidence and their own righteousness.

If we try to be righteous by the law, we end up in the same Phariseeism. But once a person trusts Jesus, they recognize their own sins and long for God's righteousness. Then he knows that only the goodness, purity and righteousness of Jesus can make him righteous and then...then he becomes righteous too.

treat hypocrisy as dirt

“Of course, I could also appeal to human virtues. If others have reason to trust it, I would have that even more. I was circumcised when I was eight days old. By birth I am an Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the purest descent. And as far as the law is concerned, I was of the strict school of the Pharisees. In zeal I was a relentless persecutor of the church; and as measured by the righteousness that comes from keeping the law, I was blameless. I used to think of these things as gains, but now that I know Christ I count them as losses. Yes indeed, everything else seems worthless to me when compared to the priceless gain of knowing Jesus Christ as my Lord. I lost everything else because of him and I also consider it dirt. Only he has value to me. And I want to belong to him at all costs. Therefore I no longer trust in my righteousness which came from keeping the law, but in the righteousness which I have through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God through faith." (Philippians 3,4:9- XNUMX NewÜ/LU)

This was a Pharisee living out God's law as best he could. He was impeccable. Yet he gave it all up for Jesus.

Bloodied, missed the target

“I do not reject the grace of God; for if righteousness comes by the law, Christ died in vain.« (Galatians 2,21:64,5) We cannot get more out of the law than our own righteousness. God's righteousness comes only through Jesus Christ. What is our own righteousness? A bloodstained dress (Isaiah 3,23 NL). We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans XNUMX:XNUMX).

what is sin When Israel came out of Egypt, they did not know God. They only remembered that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had one God. But that was all. To make them aware of their condition and understand what sin is, he used a term they understood. He used the word "missing the target" to describe sin. We have all sinned and missed the mark. The more lawfulness a man has, the worse off he is, the more bloodied he goes about.

change of clothes

“And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD; and Satan stood at his right hand to accuse him. And the LORD said to Satan: The LORD will threaten you, Satan! Yes, the LORD who chose Jerusalem threatens you! Isn't this a log torn out of the fire? And Joshua was clothed in dirty clothes and stood before the angel. And the angel answered and said to those who stood before him, Take off his dirty clothes. And he said to him: Behold, I have taken away your trespass from you, and I am clothing you in festive clothing.« (Zechariah 3,1:9-XNUMX NIV)

Ellen White explains that this chapter is a prophecy for our day. Here stands Joshua clothed in his own righteousness. Then Jesus takes them from him and clothes him with God's righteousness. Joshua had done his best. Could that save him? no How many times do we hear people say, "I'm doing my best," in hopes of being saved. Joshua had to be reclothed. Only then was he placed among the angels. Once our righteousness has been completely taken away and Jesus has clothed us in God's righteousness, we too will stand with the angels and walk in His law.

“I rejoice greatly in the Lord, and my soul rejoices in my God; for he clothed me with raiment of salvation, clothed me with the mantle of righteousness, as a bridegroom puts on a priestly headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.« (Isaiah 61,10:XNUMX) We will sing this song. God gives us righteousness as well as life. If we try to acquire justice in any other way, we will fail.

Jesus straightens you again

“Now, without the law, the righteousness of God is revealed, attested by the law and the prophets. But I speak of the righteousness before God, which comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. For there is no difference here: they are all sinners, and lacking in the glory which they ought to have before God, and are justified without merit by his grace through the redemption that is through Christ Jesus. God appointed him for faith to be atoned for in his blood, to prove his righteousness by forgiving the sins that were formerly committed in the days of God's patience, so that now, at this time, he might prove his righteousness, that he alone be righteous and justify him who is by faith in Jesus.« (Romans 3,21:26-XNUMX LU)

Jesus came to proclaim God's righteousness.

No more bungling - now you hit the mark

"Through the sin of one man we came under the dominion of death, but through the other man, Jesus Christ, all who accept God's grace and the gift of righteousness will triumph over sin and death and live!" (Romans 5,17: XNUMX NL) We find the free gift here. Justice is the gift of life to anyone who trusts in it. Jesus Christ will always be the object of the law. Jesus' obedience counts, not ours. Because only he can bring justice. Therefore, it is better that we stop trying to do God's will in our own strength. Stop it! Let's get rid of it once and for all! Let's let Jesus' obedience do everything for us so that we can draw the bow and hit the mark.

A savior for children, teenagers and adults

Why did the Savior come as an infant and not as a grown man? His death on the cross would have been sufficient as atonement. Because he lived as a child and faced all the temptations that a child experiences and yet never sinned, any child can now put himself in his shoes and resist in his strength. He lived also as a youth and as a grown man, and wove the robe of righteousness to cover us—ourselves, and not our dirty clothes; because that would be an unholy crossroads. First he takes off our dirty dress and then he puts his dress on us instead. Anyone who wants it can have it.

Thank god for the perfect mirror

If righteousness is a gift from God and comes through the gospel, what is the use of the law? The law was added so that sin might aggravate (Romans 5,20:3,19): »But we know that whatever the law speaks, it speaks to those under the law, so that every mouth and all the world may be shut up guilty before God.« (Romans XNUMX:XNUMX LU) The law tells sinners that all are guilty before God. It shows people their guilt.

“For by the works of the law no man shall be justified before him. For by the law comes the knowledge of sin.« (Romans 3,20:XNUMX) The law reveals unrighteousness to us, not righteousness. Jesus reveals righteousness, the law unrighteousness. God's law cannot let a single sin, however slight, pass. If it approved a single imperfect thought, it would lead the soul to perdition. The law is perfect. If it accepted imperfection, then the Lord would have to accept imperfection as well, admitting that he himself is imperfect, since the law embodies his character.

But since the law demands perfection, all men can hope. If it overlooked a single sin, no one could become sinless. For the law would not hold that sin against anyone to be forgiven. But forgiveness is the only way out.

Soon the last sin will be taken away from us

The day is coming when the law will have revealed even the last sin. Then we will stand perfectly before him and be saved with everlasting salvation. The perfection of God's law is that it shows us all our sins. Then the perfect Savior stands ready to take them all away. When God makes us aware of all sins, it is not to condemn us but to save us. It is therefore a sign of his love for us when he makes us aware of a sin. Because the savior is just waiting to take them away. That's why God gave us a Savior and the gospel. He wants us all to trust Him, come to Him, and be saved.

"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." (Matthew 5,6:XNUMX) Do not many of us hunger and thirst after righteousness? Do we want to get fed? Then let's not look at the law, but at Jesus' cross.

to be filled with God

“Therefore I kneel before the Father, to whom every family in heaven and earth owes their existence: according to the riches of his glory, may he give you strength, that you may be strengthened inwardly by his Spirit; that Christ dwells in your hearts by faith, and that you are firmly rooted and grounded in his love; that you, together with all who belong to God, may be able to comprehend the whole extent, its breadth, length, height and depth; yes, to recognize what surpasses all knowledge: the immeasurable love that Christ has for us. In this way you will be filled to the fullness of God.« (Ephesians 3,14:19-XNUMX NIV)

Rooted and grounded in faith through His love in our hearts.

“For in him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you have been filled to fulness in him who is the head of all dominion and power.« (Colossians 2,9:10-XNUMX) For in him we are filled to fulness. There is abundance, joy, peace, goodness and justice for all eternity.

continuation

Slightly shortened from: Kansas camp meeting sermons, 11. March 1889