Topical Bible: Righteousness: The Wicked do not Obey

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In the biblical context, righteousness is often juxtaposed with wickedness, highlighting the moral and spiritual divide between those who follow God's commandments and those who do not. The concept of righteousness is deeply rooted in the character of God and His expectations for humanity. It is a state of moral purity and adherence to divine law, which the wicked inherently reject.

Biblical Foundation

The Bible consistently portrays the wicked as those who refuse to obey God's laws and commands. In the Old Testament, the Psalms and Proverbs frequently contrast the righteous with the wicked, emphasizing the latter's disobedience and moral corruption. Psalm 1:1-2 states, "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night." Here, the wicked are depicted as those who reject God's law, while the righteous find joy in obedience.

Proverbs 28:4 further illustrates this contrast: "Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them." The wicked are characterized by their abandonment of divine law, while the righteous uphold it, resisting the influence of the wicked.

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, the theme of righteousness versus wickedness continues, with a focus on the transformative power of faith in Christ. Romans 1:18 declares, "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness." This passage underscores the idea that wickedness involves a deliberate suppression of truth and disobedience to God's revealed will.

The Apostle Paul, in his letters, often contrasts the life of the flesh, associated with wickedness, with the life of the Spirit, which embodies righteousness. Galatians 5:19-21 lists the acts of the flesh, which include "sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like." These acts are indicative of a life that does not obey God's commands.

The Nature of Disobedience

The wicked are not merely those who fail to meet God's standards; they are actively opposed to them. This opposition is rooted in a heart that is hardened against God. Jeremiah 17:9 describes the human heart as "deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" This deceitfulness leads to a life of disobedience and rebellion against God's righteous standards.

In the Gospels, Jesus addresses the issue of disobedience among the wicked. In John 3:19-20 , He states, "And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." The wicked are those who choose darkness over light, preferring their sinful ways to the righteousness offered through Christ.

Consequences of Disobedience

The Bible warns of the dire consequences awaiting those who persist in wickedness and disobedience. In Matthew 25:46 , Jesus speaks of the final judgment, saying, "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." The eternal separation from God is the ultimate consequence for those who refuse to obey His commands.

The Apostle Paul, in 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 , also speaks of the punishment for the wicked: "He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with eternal destruction, shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might." This passage highlights the severity of disobedience and the eternal ramifications for the wicked.

Conclusion

The biblical narrative consistently presents the wicked as those who do not obey God's commands, living in opposition to His righteous standards. Through both the Old and New Testaments, the wicked are depicted as individuals who reject divine truth, choosing instead a path of disobedience and moral corruption. The consequences of such a life are severe, underscoring the importance of righteousness and obedience to God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 2:8
But to them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Thessalonians 2:12
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Wicked Heart Set to do Evil.
... not wicked to gratify his passion; but wicked though it ... against God, and He could
not do otherwise than ... of the imputation of Christ's righteousness, which they ...
/.../finney/sermons on gospel themes/viii the wicked heart set.htm

"That the Righteousness of the Law Might be Fulfilled in Us,"
... to come to God, and forsake their own wicked way, is ... for, and within us too;""that
the righteousness of the ... Why do you then imagine, that you are in Christ ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xv that the righteousness.htm

Article iii: of Love and the Fulfilling of the Law.
... in God's judgment that this confidence in his own righteousness is wicked and vain ...
And as we do not receive remission of sins through other virtues of the Law ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 6 article iii of.htm

Faustus Claims that the Manich??ans and not the Catholics are ...
... blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness' sake," [328 ... He will not be
seen by the wicked; for "blessed ... Do you not know that the apostle says, "If I ...
/.../faustus claims that the manichaeans.htm

Righteousness.
... vicarious sacrifice, or its shadow called imputed righteousness, that only ... not indeed
allow him to be wicked, but would ... the door and not see him, do not say he ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/unspoken sermons/righteousness.htm

Why the Righteousness which is of the Law is Valued Slightly by ...
... that they do it, although they do it not with ... Thus they remain either plainly wicked
or deceitfully righteous ... what is displeasing; but the righteousness in the ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 20 why the righteousness which.htm

Article iii: of Christ.
... of the Second Table which contain civil righteousness that reason ... Holy Ghost, they
do virtuous works, because they do them with a wicked heart, according ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 2 article iii of.htm

The Instrumentality of the Wicked Employed by God, While He ...
... betrays the guilt of man, and manifests the righteousness of God. ... man does what he
ought not to do, let them ... pleasure even in the hearts of the wicked, at the ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 18 the instrumentality of.htm

Commandment Fifth. Of Sadness of Heart, and of Patience.
... in what way it overthrows the servants of God by its action, and turns them from
righteousness. ... Wherefore do you depart from that most wicked spirit anger ...
/.../pastor/the pastor books first second third/commandment fifth of sadness of.htm

Article xxviii (xiv): of Ecclesiastical Power.
... be services which God shall approve as righteousness; in order ... And when they do this,
obedience is prohibited ... When, therefore they teach wicked things, they are ...
/.../the apology of the augsburg confession/part 36 article xxviii xiv .htm