The Just and the Unjust - Who are they?

"...there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the righteous and the unrighteous." (Acts 24:15)

So, who are these people?

"Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright—but the righteous will live by faith." (Habakkuk 2:4)

"As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one." (Romans 3:10)

Houston, we have a problem! The Bible says that the righteous live by faith, however, no one is righteous. But there is an exception! - the incarnated Son of God, who became a man. This one is "righteous" and is the ONLY human who has ever lived by faith. So, he suffered for all the rest of us "to bring you to God".

"For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit..." (1 Peter 3:18)

"But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!" (Romans 5:8)

"But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. And this righteousness from God comes through Jesus Christ's faith to all, and on all who believe. There is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified (made righteous) freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through the faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who is of the faith of Jesus." (Romans 3:21-26)

"But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is from God for faith." (Philippians 3:7-9)

As I see it, those who are "just/righteous" are those who rely on the faith of Jesus to save them, and those who are "unjust/unrighteous" are those who rely on their own personal faith to save them.

Breathtaking Stupidity

My own stupidity is breathtaking, but I am learning to trust in the “mysterious and hidden wisdom of God” that His Spirit reveals from time to time.

“Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become stupid, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is stupidity in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”  And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” Therefore, stop boasting in men. All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future. All of them belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.” (1 Corinthians 3:18-23)

It has taken me years to become stupid after thinking I was wise in this age. The wisdom of the world is what I was taught in school. Yet God says that the wisdom of the greatest minds of men is futile - ineffective. So, I rarely “boast in men” by quoting them. However, I do try to find the wisdom of God in the Bible. So far, I have figured out that I belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God – and I am content with that while searching out the “mysterious and hidden wisdom of God” recorded in the Bible. The inspired writers therein claim that...

“…we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.  No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.  None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:6-10)

As I listen to the wisdom of the world coming daily from news casts and social media I am convinced that I am not alone in my breathtaking stupidity.

Amen, Come Lord Jesus!

 "What can we bring to the LORD? Should we bring Him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer Him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:6-8)

In my 73 years I have, like all humans, experienced evil in the proportion necessary to motivate me to walk "humbly" with God and try to do what He requires of me. I honestly do not care what men or their institutions require of me, but I do care about, and try to do what GOD requires of me...it is not always easy while watching the news of the day!

The world news usually leaves me thinking about the final words in our Bible as I try to go to sleep...

“Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen." (Revelation 22:20-21)