I am going to start here with an understanding I recently pondered in my mind while in personal prayer time. Do you realize that there are only 2 personages that are RIGHTOUS in the whole universe? That’s right, 2, and they are none other than God the Father, and Jesus Christ our Savior. Righteous means, according to the Hebrew language, rightness, justice, make right, cleanse, clear, and in the Greek language, innocent, Holy, equitable in character, and in the Webster dictionary, acting in accord with Devine or moral law, morality. And the one I heard and like was “always doing what is right even when nobody is looking.“ I know you might think, what about the Holy Spirit? Isn’t he righteous too? I don’t believe so but I will ask how many thrones are in Heaven? In Mark 16:19, it state’s “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into Heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.” Hebrews 1:13, “But to which of the angels said he (God) at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool?” In Revelation 22:3, speaking of the New Heaven and New Earth, “but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it.” You see in the Bible all over the place that there are 2 thrones in Heaven not 3. I believe that the Holy Spirit is more of a tool of God’s than that of a personage as Christ is, My belief, I know others don’t believe that and that is OK, none of us will know all until we are with Christ in the resurrection. Oh will we know all then as the Apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 13:9-12, “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, (Jesus’ 2nd coming) then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child; I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” When Jesus returns a whole lot of questions will be answered and I am sure some will say, “That was easy to figure out, why didn’t I, and then Jesus will say, we didn’t want you to know this until now. God and his plan are so wonderful! Back to righteousness now, so in my belief there are just the 2 in the whole universe that are righteous and to me that is mind boggling, only 2 out of all the billions of people, beings, etc.
You might ask what about the Angels, are they righteous? In Revelation 12:4, it states “And his tail (Satan) drew the third part of the stars (Angels) of Heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.” Sadly a third of the Angels followed Satan in his rebellion against God, so are the other Angels righteous? In Jude verse 6 it states, “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he (God) has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” So Angel’s righteous, I don’t believe so myself, again one third of them rebelled against God. Well, what about man, surely someone somewhere on this earth in some time or another was righteous? Let’s look what God says about that. In Jeremiah 17:9, God speaking about man, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? In Isaiah 64:6, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness’s are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities (sin), like the wind, have taken us away.” Let’s go to Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Also in Romans 3:10, “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.” Friends, it is pretty sad to say that the human race has not lived up to the standards of our God and our Savior Jesus Christ, just look at the world around us now in the 21st century. Not a pretty sight to say the least is it? God knew we couldn’t do it without his help. That is what is so beautiful about God’s plan of salvation for all of mankind through his Son, our Savior. Because Jesus came and lived as a man and died for the sins of the world as it states in John 1:29, because of what he did listen to what the Bible teaches about all of the ones that confess Jesus and follow him; (and here at Message of Hope Ministry we believe most of mankind will be saved). Let’s read 1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of him are you in Christ Jesus, (Followers of Jesus) who of God is made us (the followers, Christians) wisdom and Righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” Because we are of Christ, we have Wisdom, we have RIGHTEOUSNESS, and we are set apart, (sanctified) and redemption” (will be saved). When resurrected at Christ’s second coming, the Church will be all of these, as we seen above; in this world we are filthy rags and sinners but through Christ we will be changed. Thanks be to our Father and our Savior, Revelation 19:7-9, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the saints. “In conclusion, my belief is that there are 2 RIGHTEOUS beings in the Universe at this time and because of our Lord and Savior when he returns many will be added to those RIGHTEOUS ones in His Kingdom. And as the Kingdom advances through the 1,000-year reign of Christ and beyond more and more will be added into the Family of God and His whole family will be RIGHTEOUS as He is Righteous. It states in 1 Corinthians 15:24, “Then comes the end, when he (Christ) shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he (Christ) shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. Jesus finishes the work given him by the Father in saving mankind then Christ will give all authority that was given him back to the Father where it belongs. And again in Revelation 22:3 states, speaking of the New Heaven and New Earth, (where Righteousness reigns) “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: Eternity with God the Father and Jesus Christ the Savior of the world. What a wonderful time for mankind is coming and it all because of this scripture, John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but has everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” In spite of ourselves God through Jesus Christ will save mankind from himself and how Righteous is God for doing this for us? Amen, Amen!
Thank You for taking the time to study in God’s precious word, Great times await mankind because of our great Savior Jesus Christ and God Promises that. God Bless You and stay in His word.
Pastor Mark