But what is righteousness? Lk. 1:6, "And they (Zacharias and Elisabeth, John the Baptist's parents) were both righteous before God, walking in ALL the COMMANDMENTS (ten of them ¾ Ex. 20) and ordinances (Gk statutes of Lev. 23) of the Lord blameless (not sinless)."
After all, what was Jesus death and shed blood sacrificed for? "(Christians) Being justified (put in right standing with God) freely by his grace (unmerited favor) through the redemption (buying back from death) that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (cancellation of sins) through FAITH IN HIS (shed) BLOOD (through death), to declare his (Jesus') righteousness for the remission of sins THAT ARE PAST…" (Rom. 3:24-25). Jesus' shed blood has forgiven us of all our PAST breaking of God's law. We are now MADE RIGHT with God, given a clean slate with no violations that produce death held against us. WHAT MERCY!
Does the New Testament tell us what law that we violated to produce death? Yes! It is this same law that Jesus' shed blood forgives us for breaking IN THE PAST, but must now obey or we become sinners all over again. Heb. 9:14-15, "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without fault to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause (purging from dead works) he is the mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the FIRST TESTAMENT (Ex. 20), they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."
Jude warned against turning the forgiveness of sins¾grace¾into a license to DISobey God's law. "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common SALVATION, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly CONTEND for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Why?) For there are certain men crept in unawares…turning the grace (forgiveness of sins) of our God into LASCIVIOUSNESS, and DENYING the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 3-4).
THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS INDICTMENT. Every Christian had better know what LASCIVIOUSNESS is: because if you are unknowingly turning grace into lasciviousness, you are DENYING GOD THE FATHER AND YOUR ONLY SOURCE OF SALVATION ¾ JESUS CHRIST. The Webster New International, unabridged dictionary, second edition: Lasciviousness ¾ wanton; lewd; lustful. Synonym: Licentious ¾ characterized by license; UNRESTRAINED BY LAW OR MORALITY: LAWLESS, IMMORAL.
Remember, Jesus own statement of Matt. 7:21-23 concerning many individuals working miracles and doing wonderful works IN JESUS NAME, but Jesus will tell the miracle workers ¾ I NEVER KNEW YOU, YOU WORKERS OF INIQUITY (violators of law). If you are not obeying ALL TEN of God's commandments, you are presently trampling upon the shed blood of Jesus, REPENT.
Eternal Life ¾ How?
You CANNOT EARN eternal life. Our past law breaking brought only the death penalty. Once we are forgiven and receive a new lease on life, we are now to OBEY RIGHTEOUSNESS ¾ GOD'S LAW ¾ to prevent future sins.
Lk. 1:6 shows clearly that righteousness is attained by OBEDIENCE to God's commandments. It also points out that we can become blameless, not sinless. We cannot keep God's law to perfection; however, we have the shed blood of Jesus to cover our ACCIDENTAL breaking of God's law. "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye SIN (break God's law) NOT. And IF any man sin (break God's law) we have an advocate (lawyer to mediate with the Judge) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He (Jesus) is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (I Jn. 2:1-2).
After grace is applied, how does eternal life come to us? "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have ETERNAL LIFE? And He (Jesus) said unto him,… IF thou wilt enter into life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS. He saith unto Him (Jesus), which (commandments)? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honor thy Father and thy Mother, and Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matt. 19:16-19).
Jesus made clear which commandments we must OBEY to prevent future sins that would exclude us from the Kingdom. John, who leaned on Jesus' bosom at the last supper, confirms Jesus' statement concerning salvation and obedience to the law. "And hereby we do KNOW that we know Him, IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. He (any Christian) that saith, I KNOW HIM (Jesus), and KEEPETH NOT HIS COMMANDMENTS, is a liar, and the truth is not in him" (I Jn. 2:3-4). Obedience to God's law is required once we are forgiven for past disobedience.