Text: Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him- Psalm 4:3

Godly (Godliness) is a conduct that springs from a right relationship with God. This is an attitude that does not correspond to one’s duty, but springs from a love from one’s heart. Therefore to be godly, one has to be righteous. This is much more than a crisis experience, as we see it in a progressive sense.

Hebrew word (Sadiq; Gk dikaiosyne - Relationship (Arabic: Friend)

Holy and upright living. in accordance with God’s standard. The word righteousness comes from a root word that means "straightness. Righteousness is a moral concept. God’s character is the definition and source of ali righteousness-Gen. 18:25; Deut. 32:4; Rom. 9:14. Therefore, man’s righteousness is defined in terms of God’s.

In the Old Testament the term righteousness is used to define man’s relationship with God.

For example, Adam and Eve would have acted righteously in their relationship with God if they had obeyed Him, because His commands defined that relationship. The Ten Commandments and related laws defined Israel’s relationship with God. To obey those laws was to act righteously, because such obedience maintained the covenant relationship between God and His people.

The sacrificial system in the Old Testament and the cross of Jesus in the New Testament show man’s need for righteousness. Sin is disobedience to the terms that define man’s relationship with God and with other people. Since the FALL in the Garden of Eden, man is inherently unrighteous. As the prophet Isaiah said, "We are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away" - Isaiah 64:6. Man cannot be righteous in the sight of God on his own merits. Therefore, man must have God’s righteousness imputed, or transferred, to him.

The cross of Jesus is a public demonstration of God’s righteousness. God accounts or transfers the righteousness of Christ to those who trust in Him - Rom. 4:3-22; Gal. 3:6; Phil. 3:9. We do not become righteous because of our inherent goodness; God sees us as righteous because of our identification by faith with His Son.

Illustration: When we see an object under different coloured glasses, we see it in the colour of those glases. Similarly God sees us through the purity of Jesus Chirst..

Therefore, we see here a crisis experience, which has to become a progressive standard.

Why? Because Job 25:4 says: How then can man be righteous before God or how can he be pure who is born of a woman?

Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean - Job 4:4

For in Your sight no one living is righteous - Psalm 143:2b

Righteousness means Relationship - God’s part is to always maintain right relationship. That is why he dealt with the Israelites byjudgement (chastisement) and deliverance.

The latter part (deliverance) refers to the salvation of man.

This is the transference of God’s righteousness upon man. which is God’s free gift of salvation to man through Jesus Christ

Crisis experience of righteousness is God’s righteousness transferred or imputed to man

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God - 2 Corinthians 5:21

When we trust in Christ, we make an exchange - our sin for his righteousness. Our sin is poured into Christ at his crucifixion. His righteousness is poured into us at our conversion.

Abraham believed in God and it was credited unto him as righteousness. His faith and belief in God made him in right relationship with God.

Similarly, if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved -Romans 10: 9. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation - Romans 10:10

Our faith in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ as our own causes us to be in right relationship with God.

1. Practical: If you kuow that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him - 1 John 2:29

2. Obedience: If initial experience is God’s doing, then our progressive experience has to be our obedience and trust in God’s faithfulness

And if we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness - Deut 6:25. Initial righteousness was by faith

Progressive righteousness has to be by faith and obedience

The righteous who is practical by obedience is the one whom God has set apart. This is the term which means sanctified and set apart - holy unto the Lord.

The High Priest of the OT had a diadem on his head with this inscription - holy unto the Lord. The NT concept is Jesus Christ is the High Priest and we are all royal priesthood, who are set apart to be holy unto the Lord — 1 Peter 2:9.

Viz.: The goblets of the OT time were used only in the Temple and it could not be used anywhere. Since Nebuchadnezer took and used it for a common purpose he was judged.

We cannot become useful for worldly purposes - unrighteous living or unholy living, in which case we will face the judgement.

Warning for the righteous: Not to fear the reproach of men. Not to be afraid of their reviling - Isaiah 51:7. Therefore, one should not become men-pleasers but always be God-pleasers.

1. Answered Prayers: Elijah was a man like us. but he earnestly prayed and it did not rain for 3.5

years. Again he prayed and it did rain. God will hear when we cry. That means without an iota of doubt, our prayers ascend before him as an incense - Revelations 5:9

2. Safety: The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and they are safe -

Proverbs 18:10. God’s protection will be upon the righteous, even as a fortress always protected the royal family and

the subjects in times of intrusion and war.

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree - Psalm 92:12

A palm tree stands firm and big. Just like that we will not only be well established, but also be sure

footed and visible to our adversaries, especially Satan

Satan saw and knew that Job was blessed of God.

3. Providence: Day to day needs and all that is needed for our living and sustenance would be met -

Matthew 6:33. The Lord is my Shepherd. therefore provider I shall lack nothing

4. Boldness: While people are afraid of their own shadows, the righteous will be as bold as a lion -

Proverbs 28:1. We see an examples in the OT. Certain times when the annies of other pagan nations had camped

around the people of Israel to attack them at daylight, during the night they fled due to unusual fear.

5. Future glory: The righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father —Matthew 13:43

Conclusion: Righteousness is imputed to us through Jesus Christ and God expects us to live righteous lives by the Holy Spirit.

Application: For God to use us righteousness is His requirement. Therefore, Right relationship with God is very important.

Failing to live righteous lives can impair our relationship with him and allow the devil to exercise his authority over us.