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WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE TERM “RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH” BY NYRON MEDINA


1. We are told that the Gospel concerns Righteousness by Faith. Romans 1:16,17.

The Bible presents two types of Righteousness.
a. The first is called the Righteousness of God. Romans 3:5
b. This Righteousness is identified as the Righteousness that is apart from or different to the Law. Romans 3:21.
c. This Righteousness is the Nature of God, it is YHWH God Himself. Jeremiah 23:5,6; Psalms 7:17.
d. God is Love and God is Righteousness, thus Righteousness is Love. (1 John 4:8; Psalms 35:24,28; Psalms 36:10).
e. This Righteousness comes by the Faith of Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:9.
f. Then, there is the Righteousness of the Law. Romans 2:26.
g. This righteousness is good works. Romans 2:26,27.
h. This righteousness is also done by Faith. Romans 3:28-31.
3. Thus both the Righteousness of God and the righteousness of the Law are by Faith. Romans 3:22; Romans 9:31,32.
4. The Righteousness of God cannot be worked, it is not works, but is only present in Faith. Romans 4:1-3,11.
5. This is given as a gift in Faith through justification. (Romans 4:5; Romans 5:17).
6. The righteousness of the Law is not given apart from works. (1 John 2:29; James 2:8,12).
This righteousness must be performed by the individual. Psalms 7:8; Psalms 18:20.
It is real obedience to the Law of the Ten Commandments. (Isaiah 64:5; Psalms 119:55).
But this righteousness must be performed by being motivated from the heart by Faith. (James 2:18; Romans 3:28,31).
What is Faith? Faith is the revealed Truths of the Gospel of Christ. Romans 10:8; 1 Timothy 4:6.
This revealed Truths is the Faith of God. Romans 3:2-4,6.
This Faith is given by the Spirit that is called the Spirit of Truth. (Galatians 5:5 Galatians 3:14).
So that the Righteousness of God is present in this Faith. Proverbs 12:17.
So the Faith has to be imputed to us for us to get the Righteousness. Romans 4:5,9-11.
Righteousness by Faith therefore means two things:
a. It means the Righteousness or Nature of God given to us through the medium of the divine Faith of Jesus Christ. Galatians 2:20,21.
b. It also means obedience to the Righteousness of the Law performed through the influenced of Faith. Romans 3:28,31.
16. Thus Righteousness by Faith includes both Justification and Sanctification.
a. It is Justification because it is the Righteousness of God in Faith imputed to change the person. Galatians 2:16,17,20,21; Romans 3:22).
b. It is sanctification because it is the gift of the Righteousness of God in Faith separating the receiver from sin. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Romans 5:17).
c. It is sanctification because it is obedience to the righteousness of the Law in place of transgression and is done under the influence of Faith. (Romans 8:4; Romans 3:31).
17. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross for our benefit is not Righteousness by Faith, it is Righteousness by Faith provided, but not individually given. (John 10:11,15; Romans 8:10; Romans 5:18).
Righteousness by Faith is always subjective, that is, it is a term to explain the subjective works of God in changing us and causing us to obey God by Faith. Romans 1:16,17.
This is an outline of the position of Righteousness by Faith in the seven pillars of the Gospel.
THE SEVEN PILLARS, GOSPEL
The Godhead
The depravity of man
3. The incarnation, holy life, death and resurrection of Jesus
4. The calling or prevenient grace
RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH
5. Justification by faith
6. Sanctification by faith
7. The judgment and blotting out

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