What is righteousness?
(Psalm 119:142; Daniel 11:25; Matthew 22:36-40; Revelation 12:17; 14:6-12)
Blog May 26 – Jun 1, 2024
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: <PresentTruthLRI@gmail.com>
REVIEW: In every age God has warned his people of Lucifer’s deceptions in the controversy between good and evil. God uses messengers to guide his people in the way they should go and between the 6th and 7th trumpet of Revelation he pointed them to the true tabernacle in heaven.
A Look into Heaven
1. When between the 6th and 7th trumpet God’s people were told to “prophesy again” where were they directed? During the time of the church of Philadelphia God’s people were told to measure the temple: that is the sanctuary in heaven (Rev. 10:11; 11:1-2).
2. What room of the heavenly sanctuary was opened to John’s view in Revelation 11? In Revelation 11 John, who represents God’s people, was given a view into heaven’s Most Holy Place (Rev. 11:19).
3. What special piece of furniture was seen in heaven’s Most Holy Place? Heaven’s Most Holy Place contains the ark of the covenant, just as the pattern on earth contained the ark that Moses built (Ex. 26:31-34; Heb. 9:1-5; Rev. 11:19).
4. What is the covenant that the ark contains? The covenant contained in the ark is the Ten Commandments (Ex. 25:16; Heb. 9:4; Rev. 11:19).
5. Why are the Ten Commandments given such a special place in God’s house? The Ten Commandments are the foundation of God’s government & are the words of the covenant that Jesus makes with his people (Ex. 34:28; Jer. 31:33; Heb. 8:10).
6. Since God is righteous, what description of righteousness does the Bible give? Righteousness is conformity to the Ten Commandments for they describe God’s glorious character. Notice the parallel between Exodus 20 & Exodus 34 (Ex.20:8-11; 33:18 – 34:7; Psa. 119:142; Rom. 3:5).
The Ten Commandments
7. How were the Ten Commandments summarized in the creation story? The two institutions established in Eden were the Sabbath & marriage. The Sabbath is a symbol of the first four commandments & marriage of the last six (Gen. 2:1-3, 21-24).
8. How did Jesus summarize the Ten Commandments? Jesus summarized the Ten Commandments as love to God (1-4) & love to one’s neighbor (5-10) (Matt. 22:36-40).
9. How does Paul describe God’s Law in Romans? The Law is holy, & the commandment holy, just, & good (Rom. 7:12).
10. How enduring are the words of God’s covenant law? God’s Law is eternal, for like his character & government there is no end (even to a thousand generations) (Deut. 7:9; Psa. 111:7-8; 119:89-90).
11. Of what does the book of James warn us about the commandments? James warns us that all Ten Commandments are to be kept, for omitting one is the same as breaking all of them (Jam. 2:8-11).
12. By what everlasting truth did God demonstrate that his Law could not be changed? In order to save mankind God made the sacrifice of his Son rather than alter his unchangeable law, for the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23; 8:32; 1 Cor. 15:3).
13. What did Jesus say he came to earth to do? Jesus said he came to fulfill God’s Law for it could not be changed (Matt. 5:17-20; Heb. 10:5-10).
14. Besides living a perfect human life in our place what else did Jesus do that showed God’s Law could not be changed? Jesus also bore the curse of God’s Law for the wages of sin is death (2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:10).
The Final Conflict
15. What oft-repeated word in Revelation 13 and 14 tells us what earth’s final crisis will be over? The oft-repeated word is “worship” (Rev. 13 & 14).
16. Where is true worship best defined? True worship is best defined in the Ten Commandments, especially the first four (Ex. 20:1-17; John 14:15).
17. Which of the commandments says who God is, and why he should be worshipped? The fourth commandment tells us that God is the Creator of this earth & everything in it. That is why we should worship him (Ex. 20:8-11).
18. What other reason for worship is given in Revelation 5? We are also to worship God because after we fell into sin, he redeemed us (Rev. 5:8-14).
19. What major characteristics identify God’s end-time people? God’s people are characterized by their obedience to God’s Law, their faith in Jesus, & their perseverance unto the end (Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Col. 1:22-23; Rev. 12:17; 14:12).
20. How much faith must God’s people have to endure the final conflict? While it is true that our faith should always be increasing it is not the “amount” of faith but its “object” that determines our eternal destiny. Jesus said that a very small amount of faith could move mountains (even the mountain of his righteousness to our account) (Matt. 17:20; Luke 17:5; Heb. 12:2).