We are talking about OT righteousness. Before Jesus came to bring the higher walk in Him, based on a new kind of faith (the faith OF Christ) there was a common righteousness among the meek and God fearing. This is something the Jews understand very well...but people who come to God based on the NT not so much...or not at all. 2 examples among many will suffice. Actually the first is repeated twice and the second 3 times.
David says...judge me according to my righteousness
Os. 7:8 The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
Ez. 14:14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.
I realize that you may have to study on this for some years before you understand what I'm getting at...but the bible is the bible.
Hebrews 11. All the OT saints had faith. It was not righteousness alone. It seems that some want to make a case that people can be accepted/saved by their own righteousness, but no, that is simply
contrary to what the bible teaches.
Heb 11:1-40
Now
faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
But
without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
And what shall I more say? for
time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, the
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
It isn't me or anyone being a meany saying that without faith it is impossible to please Him and receive the promise of eternal life. It is the
LORD. And WHO ARE WE TO GAINSAY HIM?? That is a spirit of self-righteousness that just accepts everyone regardless of faith, and in a subtle backhanded way accuses
THE LORD GOD MOST HIGH and His true followers of being UNRIGHTEOUS. It tries to make itself out to be MORE RIGHTEOUS THAN GOD. THAT IS NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT! IT IS THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD - OF SATAN, the
ACCUSER.
We are instructed in the word (2 Cor. 6) to come out from among the unbelieving and be ye SEPARATE from them, to be not unequally yoked with them.....and then He will accept us. It says elsewhere that we are not to be in friendship with the world because that is ENMITY WITH GOD. He will not accept those who are in friendship/unity/yoked with the world.
But does that mean we would be justified in having a superior smug attitude towards those who are outside the faith....as we will be accused of by that spirit....no of course not. If we have a heart like that it would make us hypocrites and like the Pharisees and could disqualify us from the faith. That would not be fruit of the Holy Spirit. We are to love even our enemies. It's not for us to judge those who are outside. And it's always a case of there but for the grace of God go we. We all were once in darkness and lost like they were. And Christians are even to lay down our lives if need be that others might hear the gospel and be saved, and often do.
