Topical Bible: Righteousness: An Evidence of the New Birth

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Topical Encyclopedia

Righteousness, within the context of Christian theology, is often understood as the quality of being morally right or justifiable. It is a central theme in the Bible and is closely associated with the concept of the new birth, or being "born again," which signifies a spiritual transformation and renewal through faith in Jesus Christ.

Biblical Foundation

The concept of righteousness as evidence of the new birth is deeply rooted in Scripture. In the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about the necessity of being born again to see the kingdom of God: "Jesus replied, 'Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again'" (John 3:3). This new birth is a spiritual rebirth, marked by a transformation that leads to a life characterized by righteousness.

The Apostle Paul further elaborates on this transformation in his epistles. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, he writes, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!" . This new creation is expected to live a life that reflects the righteousness of God, as the believer is now indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who empowers them to live according to God's standards.

Righteousness as a Fruit of the Spirit

Righteousness is often described as a fruit of the Spirit, a visible manifestation of the Holy Spirit's work in the life of a believer. In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These attributes collectively reflect a life of righteousness that is pleasing to God.

The presence of these qualities in a believer's life serves as evidence of the new birth. As Paul writes in Ephesians 4:24, believers are to "put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" . This new self is a reflection of the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, leading to a life that aligns with God's righteous standards.

Righteousness and Justification

Righteousness is also closely linked to the doctrine of justification, which is the act of God declaring a sinner to be righteous on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 3:22-24 states, "And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" .

This justification is not based on human merit but is a gift of grace, received through faith. It is the starting point of the believer's journey in righteousness, as they are now seen as righteous in the eyes of God because of Christ's atoning sacrifice.

Practical Implications

The evidence of the new birth through righteousness has practical implications for the believer's daily life. James 2:17 emphasizes that "faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead" . Genuine faith, therefore, produces righteous actions that reflect the believer's new nature in Christ.

Believers are called to pursue righteousness actively, as instructed in 1 Timothy 6:11: "But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness" . This pursuit is a lifelong journey, marked by a continual reliance on the Holy Spirit to cultivate righteousness in every aspect of life.

Conclusion

Righteousness, as an evidence of the new birth, is a transformative process that begins with justification and continues through sanctification. It is a testament to the believer's new identity in Christ and serves as a witness to the world of the power of the Gospel to change lives. Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, believers are empowered to live righteously, reflecting the character of God and fulfilling their calling as His children.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 John 2:29
If you know that he is righteous, you know that every one that does righteousness is born of him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Marks of the New Birth
... upon the testimony of God, or upon the evidence of miracles ... "he that doeth righteousness
is righteous ... I plainly laid down those marks of the new birth which I ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 18 the marks of.htm

Prayer and Desire
... in spiritual ecstasy, or, that the new birth has never ... which do hunger and thirst
after righteousness: for they ... the proof of a renewed heart, the evidence of a ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/the necessity of prayer/iv prayer and desire.htm

The New-Birth
... great truths stand attested by undeniable evidence of scripture. ... that he is our
justification, or righteousness; that in ... by the arising of a new birth, or life ...
/.../law/the grounds and reasons of christian regeneration/the new-birth.htm

Suffering the Birth-Pains of a New Life.
... in obedience to His wishes, and an evidence of His ... the words of the philosopher of
the New Testament writers. ... God and it was reckoned to him for righteousness. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks about jesus/suffering the birth-pains of a.htm

Christ, the Believer's Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and ...
... as to exclude Christ within, as an evidence of our ... Who of God is made unto us
righteousness', does not ... the regeneration, be partakers of a new birth, and that ...
/.../christ the believers wisdom righteousness.htm

The Power of Christ's Resurrection
... unless we had an inward inherent righteousness wrought in ... look only for external
proofs to evidence it? ... power of Christ's resurrection, or our new birth, as an ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the power of christs resurrection.htm

"But if the Spirit of Him that Raised up Jesus from the Dead Dwell ...
... shall condemn?" Here is a clear evidence, that he ... the power of his resurrection to
quicken the new. ... bodily members are made servants of righteousness, which is ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxxi but if the.htm

Baptism.
... speaks of baptism as our regeneration or new birth unto God ... and we have as strong
circumstantial evidence as we ... up their little one in the way of righteousness. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter ii baptism.htm

1 John ii. 29
... the eternal, original source of the new life imparted ... leads a life in harmony with
righteousness is born ... the opposite is found, it furnishes evidence that this ...
//christianbookshelf.org/neander/the first epistle of john/1 john ii 29.htm

Entire Sanctification as Taught by John.
... of our Lord with Nicodemus on the new birth, but His ... went her way to become a preacher
of righteousness to her ... to how many faith has been No evidence of things ...
/.../clark/the theology of holiness/chapter ix entire sanctification as.htm