Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION
In the last two months we have been considering the benefits of walking with God. So far we have looked at God’s Divine Faithfulness, and His Divine Healing. During the course of this month, we will be looking at the various facets of God’s Divine Righteousness, starting today with His consistent faithfulness.

CASE STUDY JOSEPH (Genesis Chapters 37–50)
Today’s text in Gen. 37:1-18 is simply the starting point of the story of Joseph. The entire account spans several chapters up to Chapter 41 when he was made prime minister of Egypt. The story of Joseph is a testament to God’s righteousness and faithfulness. Despite the numerous injustices and hardships he faced, God’s righteousness was evident in the end and His promises fulfilled. (Genesis 37:5-11 and Genesis 41:41-44). God demonstrated that He is faithful to His covenant, working through human actions—both good and evil—to achieve His righteous purposes.

Today’s study will be divided into five sections – (1) God’s righteousness, (2) How God’s righteousness can be obtained, (3) Maintaining Righteousness, (4) The benefits we derive from His righteousness. Finally, we will consider the important connection that exists between, God’s righteousness and His faithfulness.

1. GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS.
God's divine righteousness is multifaceted, reflecting His just nature, the righteous standards of His law, and the way He imparts righteousness to believers through faith. This righteousness governs His judgments, informs His law, is essential in His plan of salvation, and will be fully realized in His eternal kingdom.

(a) God is Righteous by Nature. The Bible, in Psalm 11:7 says: "For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face." (See Psalm 145:17 and Isaiah 45:21)

(b) God is Righteous in Judgment. He is impartial and judges according to His perfect standards.
Deuteronomy 32:4 says: "The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he." See (Psalm 9:8 and Romans 2:5)

2. OBTAINING GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS.
(a) Righteousness by Obedience. God's Words reflects His righteous standards and obedience to His Word counts as righteousness on our accounts. Deuteronomy 6:25: "And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us." Having said that, we still cannot declare ourselves righteous. It is only God Himself who can declare us righteous.

(b) Righteousness through Faith. Another way we can receive the righteousness of God is by faith.
Genesis 15:6: "And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness." Also see Romans 3:22: "The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction." Righteousness before God is not something humans can achieve on their own. Instead, it is imparted to those who have faith in God, particularly faith in Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:9 says: "And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith."

(c) Righteousness through Salvation Righteousness is one of the gifts God bestows on us when we give our lives to Christ. It is by grace that believers are made righteous before God. Romans 5:17 says: "For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ." 2 Corinthians 5:21: "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

3. MAINTAINING RIGHTEOUSNESS
Obedience to God’s Words: Obedience to God's commandments is a fundamental aspect of maintaining righteousness. We see from the account of Joseph that despite the injustices he suffered from his brothers (Genesis 37:12-36), the temptation and pressure to compromise from Potiphar’s wife and the injustice that followed (Genesis 39:7–20), he did not concede to the devil. Daniel also remained faithful to God’s laws, even when it meant facing the lions’ den (Daniel 6:1-28)

The Help of the Holy Spirit: Maintaining righteousness is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit, who helps believers resist sinful desires and live according to God’s will. (Galatians 5:16) “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is described as "full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom" (Acts 6:3). Even in the face of persecution, he maintained his righteousness, forgiving those who stoned him, just as Jesus had done.

4. BENEFITS DERIVED FROM HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
The benefits of God's divine righteousness impacts all aspects of a believer's life. Such as:

(a) Freedom from Sin and Guilt and Eternal Life: God's righteousness justifies believers. Through faith in Christ, we are declared righteous before God. This leads to salvation and eternal life, offering freedom from sin and guilt. (Romans 3:22-24 & 2 Corinthians 5:21)

(b) Peace with God: Being made righteous by God brings peace with Him. This peace is not merely the absence of conflict but a deep, abiding sense of harmony and reconciliation with God. Romans 5:1: "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Isaiah 32:17: "The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever."

(c) Guidance and Protection: God's righteousness guides believers in making right decisions and living in a way that pleases Him. It also protects them from the consequences of sin and the traps of the enemy. Psalm 23:3: "He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His
name's sake." Proverbs 11:6: "The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires."

(d) Spiritual Confidence and Boldness: Righteousness provides believers with confidence and boldness in their relationship with God and in their spiritual lives. They can approach God with assurance, knowing they are accepted and loved. Proverbs 28:1: "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion." Hebrews 10:19-22: "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus... let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings."

(e) Fellowship with God: God's righteousness allows us to have a close, intimate relationship with Him. Walking in righteousness brings us into deeper fellowship with God and with other believers. 1 John 1:7: "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." Psalm 24:3-4: "Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god."

(f) Eternity in Heaven: God's righteousness guarantees us eternal life. After being made righteous through Christ, we are also promised eternal life and a reward in heaven. Matthew 25:46: "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." 2 Timothy 4:8: "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

CONCLUSION
Connection Between God's Righteousness And Faithfulness
An interesting and deep relationship exists between God's righteousness and His faithfulness. God's righteousness ensures that He is always just and morally perfect, while His faithfulness reflects His unwavering commitment to His promises and to His people. These two attributes show us that God’s actions are not only right but also reliable and consistent. His righteousness is one of the foundations of His character, (the other being love), so we can trust in His promises and rely on His steadfast love. Lamentations 3:22-23 says: "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
The reason God is faithful is because of His righteousness. Nehemiah 9:8: "You have kept your promise because you are righteous."
His righteousness guarantees that He will always act in accordance with His commitments. Psalm 89:14: "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you." Deuteronomy 7:9: "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments."