The Advent of Righteousness

(Pro 11:4 KJV) Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

This is the first mention of “righteousness” (6666) in this chapter but the theme is repeated time and again.  When I see this word used I get a little puzzled at people who like to quote,

(Isa 64:6 KJV) But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

and

(Rom 3:10 KJV) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

They then build an entire theology based on the fact that we must continue to live in sin even though we claimed to be redeemed.  It does not make sense to me.

It is much more consistent to say that it is possible to live an upright and righteous life in the power of the Holy Spirit and through the grace of God but if we build our own little frameworks of legalistic “righteousnesses” we are doomed to failure.

The defeat of sin is part of the message of Christmas.  Consider these words from Joy to the World,

No more let sin and sorrow grow, Nor thorns infest the ground.

This is the season where we are reminded that God sent His Son so we could know redemption.

So?  Live in hope and expectation.  God’s power is big enough to keep you on the straight and narrow.