The Foundation of Christian Righteousness – Part 2

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Questions on BEING RIGHTEOUS (P2)

1. The Foundation of Being Righteous is built by Christ Himself. It had three parts: (1) He fulfilled the Scripture’s Prophecies, (2) He showed us by His authority how it must be interpreted (3) He obeyed it perfectly to show His divine nature, but also for our salvation as He accredits His righteousness to an account that does not have it, ours! Then He adds 2 more in v18 and v19. (4) every detail will be fulfilled, and lastly, (5) Jesus commands that we not only interpret it accurately but obey it rightly. That is a significant foundation for our righteousness! in the light of that, why do we have so much trouble with the OT, when Jesus’ attitude is so positive?
2. Moving from the foundation to the practice of Christian Righteousness, does v20 scare you? Does it seem impossible?
3. I say that the whole of the Christian life is a life of righteousness: right believing, living, thinking, choosing, acting, singing, feeling, looking, planning, and prioritizing. There is nothing that it does not cover. Is that unexpected for you? What areas does it not cover? In other words, if we believe in the Lordship of Christ over all life, is there anything that can be left out?
4. Barclay clarifies the problem about the Law by telling us the different ways “The Law” was understood. (1) the Decalogue – the 10 commandments (2) The Pentateuch – the first 5 books of the OT (3) The Law and the Prophets, Psalms (4) The Oral or Scribal Law. What were the Scribes and the Pharisees emphasizing? They added to, down-graded, reinterpreted, softened, hardened according to human tradition. Can you understand why Jesus was so angry?
5. I said that the interpretation of the Scribes was about tradition, which is called the Oral, or scribal Law. They ended up nearly forgetting about why they were doing it. They lost God. Is it possible to try to be good and lose God
6. Here were the 4 things that kind of law-keeping does – It makes a person self-focused, and therefore judgmental. It breeds a self-righteous attitude to sinners. It is more concerned with the ceremonial. Getting things right instead of living right. And lastly, to sum it up, it is entirely external. How could God desire that? When Jesus says I desire compassion not sacrifice, do we really get what grace is all about? In what way does the Cross, which is the ultimate sacrifice, do that?
7. Did Jesus delight in the Law of God, like David? How would you know that?
8. The mark of true discipleship is a superior righteousness that of the Scribes and the Pharisees. How is it superior? Is it about moral score keeping? Does that make me more righteous than you if I do one more righteous deed? So, it’s not about score keeping them, is it? If not, what is it about?
9. I use D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones description of the Christian Righteousness Jesus is talking about. I’m sure there are more and better ways, but here goes: It grows, it overflows in quality, it leans more to the spirit of the Law, it emphasizes internal matters, it emphasizes things of importance, it’s concern is on manifesting Christlike character, and lastly, it is a completely different kind of righteousness. That is the righteousness of the kingdom of God that Jesus describes in the Beatitudes. Isn’t is beautiful? Isn’t is totally superior? Isn’t it the character of Jesus? Isn’t it completely unlike the self-righteous attitude of the Pharisees and Scribes?
10. How does that change our perspective on (1) the Law of God (2) on the Christian life? Can you see why we can delight in the Law of God?