THE BELIEVER'S RIGHTEOUSNESS IN GOD [Pt 4] - Awe Hilary

THE BELIEVER'S RIGHTEOUSNESS IN GOD [Pt 4]

- Awe Hilary 

The definition and standard of God's righteousness that works in men, has been thesame from the ancient times, till date. It never deviated at anytime; it was thesame before the Law, during the Law, and now under the New Covenant in Jesus Christ.

In order to understand this, we would look at two men who obtained the state of righteousness, even before the enactment of the Mosaic Law. These men were Prophet Noah, and Abraham, who were both called righteous. The life of these two men raises pertinent questions which are very much applicable today;

1. If there was no Law, how did they know how to conduct themselves before God and men?

2. If there were no laws in the era of Noah, how could the people be adjudged as wicked? What standards did God apply to give such measurement?

3. What Moral right does God have to condemn the people who lived during the time of Noah, bringing imminent destruction on them, if there were no clearly defined standards?

4. How did a man who came out from an idolatrous household, obtain the state of righteousness before God?

These are some questions that would help us to get a deeper understanding on the subject. We would begin from the life of Prophet Noah, who was a preacher of righteousness in his days.

2 Peter 2:5

[5]and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people , a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;

The attainment of righteousness comes first by and through the revelation of God. A man cannot be made righteous or become the righteousness of God, if God has not encountered him, or if he has not received the revelation of the personality of God. This was the first indicator in the life of Prophet Noah and Abraham. Prophet Noah was a man who walked with God, which infers that he was known by God, and guided by Him.

Genesis 6:9

[9]This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.

More also, the revelation of the person of God, comes with a knowledge, which leads, guides  and instructs, hence a person's response in trusting God and believing in Him to the extent that such a person is willing to follow and walk with God, Who has been revealed, is considered an act of faith. 

Prophet Noah was not walking by assumption, rather he was walking by revelation, because he has come in contact with God, and this influenced his way of life, making him different from those who lived in his time.

Genesis 6:22

[22]Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.

THINGS TO NOTE:

1. It was not the deeds of Noah that brought him into favour with God, rather it was his faith in believing God, Who revealed Himself to him, and his response in trusting God, to the extent that he walked with Him in fellowship.

2. Noah's conduct was not an exhibition of self righteousness which came by written laws or codes, rather his conduct were faith actions which came by the instance of the revealed Word of God. 

3. The righteousness of Noah came by faith in God, and not by the observance of written codes, as they were none at that time. 

In the next part of this series, we would be looking at the wickedness in the era of Noah, and how it contradicts the righteousness of God. 

.... TO BE CONTINUED.

Min. Awe Hilary 

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