No Righteousness = No Heaven

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07-07-07

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Jesus taught that our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees if we expect to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 5
[20] For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
 

Episkopos

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Jesus taught that our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees if we expect to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 5
[20] For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.


Amen. And this is not properly understood. Indoctrination has shifted away the understanding of what righteousness is...to a faulty understanding of what holiness is. So then many believers display NEITHER in their lives.

How?

Well non-believers far too often are ALL vilified as unrighteous (rather than being non-holy)...so that many believers condemn others who are actually righteous in God's eyes. When someone condemns a righteous person...they are judged themselves as unrighteous. So then religion (yes, even the Christian religion) makes good evil and evil good. As we judge so we are judged.

This is a very simple thing to understand BEFORE indoctrination.

How many realize that?
 

justbyfaith

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Gal 2:21, I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Phl 3:9, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
 
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farouk

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Jesus taught that our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees if we expect to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 5
[20] For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Important to remember...
 

07-07-07

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Jesus then proceeds to give the standard of God's righteousness that we MUST live up to:

Matthew 5
[21] Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
[22] But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
[23] Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
[24] Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
[25] Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
[26] Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
[27] Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
[28] But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
[29] And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
[30] And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
[31] It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
[32] But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
[33] Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
[34] But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
[35] Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
[36] Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
[37] But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
[38] Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
[39] But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
[40] And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
[41] And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
[42] Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
[43] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
[44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
[45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
[46] For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
[47] And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
[48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
 
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justbyfaith

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Jesus then proceeds to give the standard of God's righteousness that we MUST live up to:

Matthew 5
[21] Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
[22] But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
[23] Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
[24] Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
[25] Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
[26] Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
[27] Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
[28] But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
[29] And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
[30] And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
[31] It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
[32] But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
[33] Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
[34] But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
[35] Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
[36] Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
[37] But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
[38] Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
[39] But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
[40] And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
[41] And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
[42] Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
[43] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
[44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
[45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
[46] For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
[47] And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
[48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

It's doable if you have the Holy Spirit.

Rom 5:5, And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

1Jo 5:3, For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
 

Enoch111

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Jesus taught that our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees if we expect to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
Actually that was said to expose the futility of the righteousness of the Pharisees, and also anyone else's who thinks that he or she can enter Heaven by their own efforts to be righteousness.

What Jesus really meant is that unless you have the righteousness of GOD HIMSELF, AND CHRIST HIMSELF, you cannot enter Heaven. He also said that we are to be perfect as God in Heaven is perfect, and who can attain that perfection outside of Christ's perfection? Meaning that unless God imputes Christ's righteousness to you by grace through faith, you are shut out of Heaven. That is what justification is all about.

There are several here who resist the idea of justification by grace through faith in Christ and His finished work of redemption. And that is because they neither understand the grace of God nor the work of Christ.
 
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Truth

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Actually that was said to expose the futility of the righteousness of the Pharisees, and also anyone else's who thinks that he or she can enter heaven by their own efforts to be righteousness.

What Jesus really meant is that unless you have the righteousness of GOD HIMSELF, AND CHRIST HIMSELF, you cannot enter Heaven. He also said that we are to be perfect as God in Heaven is perfect, and who can attain that perfection outside of Christ's perfection? Meaning that unless God imputes Christ's righteousness to you by grace through faith, you are shut out of Heaven. That is what justification is all about.

There are several here who resist the idea of justification by grace through faith in Christ and His finished work of redemption. And that is because they neither understand the grace of God or the work of Christ.

I agree with your statement, the futility of Pharisees self righteousness, Truth, Truth, it is by Their Righteousness Alone! That we are not able to Obtain Righteousness of ourselves! Impossible for us, all thing's Possible for God! Justification = Just If I Was not Guilty! although we are all Guilty!
 

07-07-07

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Actually that was said to expose the futility of the righteousness of the Pharisees, and also anyone else's who thinks that he or she can enter Heaven by their own efforts to be righteousness.

What Jesus really meant is that unless you have the righteousness of GOD HIMSELF, AND CHRIST HIMSELF, you cannot enter Heaven. He also said that we are to be perfect as God in Heaven is perfect, and who can attain that perfection outside of Christ's perfection? Meaning that unless God imputes Christ's righteousness to you by grace through faith, you are shut out of Heaven. That is what justification is all about.

There are several here who resist the idea of justification by grace through faith in Christ and His finished work of redemption. And that is because they neither understand the grace of God nor the work of Christ.

Actually, what Jesus taught was God's standard of righteousness, unlike the scribes and Pharisees, and that's why he proceeded to explain it in the following verses from Matthew 5:21-48 and Matthew chapters 6 and 7. Jesus would not tell us what to do if He didn't expect us to live up to it. People can't hide behind their fig leaf religion of "no works" and expect to inherit eternal life. No righteousness = No Heaven. Why call me Lord, Lord and do not the things I say? - Jesus.
 
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Truth

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Actually, what Jesus taught was God's standard of righteousness, unlike the scribes and Pharisees, and that's why he proceeded to explain it in the following verses from Matthew 5:21-48 and Matthew chapters 6 and 7. Jesus would not tell us what to do if He didn't expect us to live up to it. People can't hide behind their fig leaf religion of "no works" and expect to inherit eternal life. No righteousness = No Heaven. Why call me Lord, Lord and do not the things I say? - Jesus.

I truly enjoyed your statement, especially the part about [Fig Leaves] When ever I ask someone about an incident, and they begin to express an Excuse, I will always comment with the response [ here comes the Fig Leaves] as Adam & Eve covered themselves with Fig Leaves, which I call Excuses. LOL
 

VictoryinJesus

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Well non-believers far too often are ALL vilified as unrighteous (rather than being non-holy)...so that many believers condemn others who are actually righteous in God's eyes.

Maybe it has already been asked...haven’t read through the whole thread. You said non-believers ...may actually be righteous in God’s eyes. Trying to understand how you can say that in He said to seek the kingdom of His righteousness...then all those things are added. Not before but to “seek”. So are you saying His righteousness is a gift added to those who do not believe? Again trying to understand how their righteousness is God’s in whom they do not seek?
 
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Enoch111

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Jesus would not tell us what to do if He didn't expect us to live up to it.
Notice that Jesus said "enter into the Kingdom of Heaven". You seem to have forgotten what He taught in John chapter 3 about what is required for one to see and enter into the Kingdom of God (which is also the Kingdom of Heaven).
 

Episkopos

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Maybe it has already been asked...haven’t read through the whole thread. You said non-believers ...may actually be righteous in God’s eyes. Trying to understand how you can say that in He said to seek the kingdom of His righteousness...then all those things are added. Not before but to “seek”. So are you saying His righteousness is a gift added to those who do not believe? Again trying to understand how their righteousness is God’s in whom they do not seek?


None of us have God's righteousness. That is impossible. None of us has God's power or His good looks either! ;)

What is God's remains God's. His holiness is always His own. But we can become partakers of His attributes by entering into Christ. All these attributes of God are found in Him...not in us.

By ourselves if we realize that we are sinners...and we humble ourselves for it...then that makes us righteous in God's eyes.

Read in the bible where the publican was justified by beating his chest over his sins.

So then there is a big difference between righteousness in the human capacity...that is to be honest about our own weaknesses....and the righteousness of God.

Again...nobody can be righteous as God is righteous. God is unique in the entire universe.

But there are many illiterate and unknown people whom God will justify because they have done well with what they have been given. He who is faithful in little is also faithful in much.
 

Enoch111

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None of us have God's righteousness. That is impossible. None of us has God's power or His good looks either!
That is a direct contradiction of Gospel truth. Obviously you do not believe what God has revealed in His written Word about the gift of imputed righteousness. Without the righteousness of Christ not a single person will enter Heaven.
 
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Episkopos

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That is a direct contradiction of Gospel truth.
Actually a direct contradiction of your man made indoctrination. Imputing righteousness is only righteous if the one receiving the imputation is ACTUALLY righteous. Otherwise you are endorsing fables. God does NOT endorse fables. People like you do, however.
Without the righteousness of Christ not a single person will enter Heaven.

That is in your own mind....not the bible. Without faith it is impossible to please God. No one is as righteous as Christ. And God doesn't "impute" the righteousness of Christ to another person. That's a huge lie. We will all be judged by OUR righteousness...by the power of God's righteousness doing the judging. So you have it exactly backwards.

But you don't understand righteousness. You follow Luther who actually taught a salvation by "terminology alone."

You follow an empty sloganeering fantasy. Where is the truth in anything you claim? You are unable to quote the bible about any of your beliefs without misappropriating the words to mean something entirely different from their actual meaning.

And you said nothing of God's good looks either! ;)
 
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Episkopos

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I marvel at the comic book interpretations people put on the bible.

The robes that the saints wear in the future kingdom are they the righteousness of Christ or their own righteousness learned by Christ being formed in them?

Rev. 19:8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
 
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justbyfaith

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Again...nobody can be righteous as God is righteous.

Mat 5:6, Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Rom 5:19, For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

1Jo 3:7, Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.


the gift of imputed righteousness.

It is also imparted, see above.

No one is as righteous as Christ.

See verse above.

And God doesn't "impute" the righteousness of Christ to another person. That's a huge lie.

Rom 4:3, For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Rom 4:6, Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

Rom 4:9, Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

Rom 4:19, And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
Rom 4:20, He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Rom 4:21, And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Rom 4:22, And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Rom 4:23, Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
Rom 4:24, But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Rom 4:25, Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.


The robes that the saints wear in the future kingdom are they the righteousness of Christ or their own righteousness learned by Christ being formed in them?

It is the righteousness of Christ, first imputed, and then imparted.

Rev. 19:8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

That is an unfortunate mistranslation. The kjv renders it,

Rev 19:8, And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

In rendering it "righteous acts" it unfortunately implies the works of the law. But the scripture says and teaches:

Phl 3:9, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

and,

Gal 2:16,
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
 

Episkopos

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1Jo 3:7, Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

This can be easily misunderstood to mean that anyone who does anything right is just like Jesus in His full Personhood. But this speaks of the humanity of Jesus.

The bible doesn't lie...and Peter says that they who do righteousness are ACCEPTED with God. Are they exactly like Jesus in EVERY WAY? No way.

Acts 10:35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

But Jesus was ALSO righteous ...as a man. So that is what is meant here. Jesus was a righteous man who did what is right. Anyone who does what is right in ALL the world is justified by Jesus who also only did what was right...as a man. There is no difference. A good Muslim is the same as a good Jew is the same as a good Christian. If they all do the same things they ALL are like Jesus in that He also did the same.

But as Christians we are called to enter into Him so as to walk in His perfected humanity...not only doing what is humanly possible but also the eternal works that are by faith. That is where we differ with people of other faiths. And ONLY there.
 
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07-07-07

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Notice that Jesus said "enter into the Kingdom of Heaven". You seem to have forgotten what He taught in John chapter 3 about what is required for one to see and enter into the Kingdom of God (which is also the Kingdom of Heaven).

One must be born from above. A person who is born from above will walk in God's righteousness, which Jesus explains what that entails in Mathew 5, 6 & 7 -- and in many other Scriptures.
 
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