RIGHTEOUSNESS IS LIFE by L. A. Phippeny

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 25, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 25.

RIGHTEOUSNESS IS LIFE.

By L. A. Phippeny

BY L. A. PHIPPENY.

Righteousness is of God. He is called “the righteous God,” “the righteous Lord,” “the Lord our righteousness.” Ps. 7:9; 11:7; Jer. 23:6. In his prayer, Daniel said, “O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee” (Dan. 9:7); and again it is said, “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness” (Ps. 119:142), while the Lord himself says, “My righteousness shall not be abolished,” “My righteousness shall be forever.” Isa. 51:6, 8. Life is also of God. “With thee is the fountain of life” read the words of the psalmist in Ps. 36:9. Paul, preaching at Athens, told the men of that city that among the “all things” that all men receive from God, are “life and breath.” Acts 17:25. “The Father hath life in himself,” are words of Christ, in John 5:26; and another scripture, addressing the Lord, says, “From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” Ps. 90:2. Thus, righteousness and life are shown to be eternal attributes of the everlasting God.

One definition of righteousness is rectitude, a condition or state of right-doing. This is the character of God, as we see from the testimony above, and it never changes; for with him “is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17. His acts are right acts, and just. He moves in a right line, straightforward, without deviation. So, righteousness—right-doing—and judgment—right division—are the habitation, or foundation, of his throne. Ps. 97:2. That all may know what the character of God is, he has revealed it in words, and, as his acts correspond with his character, these words thus become the fundamental law or constitution of the universe. It is therefore clear that his purposes, his right-doings, his righteousness, are expressed in his law of Ten Commandments. This is also the testimony of Scripture: “All thy commandments are righteousness,” “Thy judgments are righteousness.” Ps. 119:172, 75, margin. This law, then, is the universal guide, for it states plainly what the Lord desires his creatures to do. If this law is in the heart, the possessors of it will know righteousness (Isa. 51:7), will do righteousness, and will be “righteous, even as he is righteous” (1 John 3:7).

We will now consider the result of right-doing or doing righteousness. The words of the Lord himself are, “The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.” Isa. 32:17. The wise man bears this testimony: “In the way of righteousness is life;” “righteousness tendeth to life;” “righteousness delivereth from death.” Prov. 12:28; 11:19; 10:2. The words of Christ on one occasion were, “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matt. 19:17); and “Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them” (Rom. 10:5). Whoever, therefore, does no wrong, but only what is right, according to the great standard of righteousness, is not only righteous, but he has life, he lives. That is, the instant he becomes righteous, he begins living an eternal life; for righteousness and life go hand in hand. They are as interwoven in him as they are in God, who bestows them, and from whom they can not be separated; and, if allowed to do so, they will work out in him God’s design concerning man when he placed him on the earth. In the beginning God created an upright, honest, righteous man. He was righteous because he came from the hands of a righteous Being, whose glory he reflected. His was the right to eat of the tree of life and live forever, if he should continue in harmony with the law of life. But in an evil moment he compromised his glorious privileges, spoiled the righteous nature originally given him, and lost his capacity for enjoying an endless life. He sinned, and his sinful nature passed upon all men.

But thanks be to God that his original purpose has never changed, and that every word and promise concerning righteousness and life are still living and full of power; for the word was given because man did fall. Thank him for the wondrous plan of salvation, that places this righteousness within the reach of every man, woman, and child, and for the same everlasting life which goes with it. In its broadest sense, always and forever, righteousness is life.