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APPENDIX 4
The LOVE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
 

The excellence of God's righteousness has been considered in various places, including Biblical Blessings Appendix III, Barbs, Arrows and Balms Appendix III, Ch.13, and That Magnificent Rock, Ch. 6.

However, here we wish simply to itemise some of the "righteousnesses" which may be intended in Revelation 19:8. (For this, see The Kingdom of Heaven... Ch. 9, pp. 147-150.) Of course, it may mean simply this: that each saint has a righteousness imputed, so that the mass of them have "righteousnesses".
The case would resemble then, that of each woman with a hat, but in a crowd you see the MANY hats of the women.

It is in any case profitable to consider this - that there are many inter-relationships of the divine righteousness to the human sinner. There are, for example:

1) imputed righteousness (Romans 4:23-5:1). This is the righteousness account, as specified further in II Corinthians 5:19-21, Galatians 3:10-13, which is one aspect of salvation; and without which there is no salvation; and on which, as a jurisdictive and juridical basis, one can be a Christian at all in the presence of Him whose ways are perfection, and who does not deteriorate from them in one single thing.

To US goes His righteousness, on account and on account of CHRIST and His finished work; to CHRIST has gone our sin, on account of our misdeeds, misalliances, mischiefs (I John 4:9-10).

2) wrought righteousness, which is the character moulding (Romans 5:3-4). In this case, although it is still true that the "flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit lusts against the flesh" in the Christian heart (Galatians 5), yet the fight is one of triumph, the battle results in victory, for "greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world" - I John 4:4-6). He has more power, He has re-constituted the heart of the Christian from the one possessed before (Hebrews 8:10, John 3, I john 3), His Spirit dwells overpoweringly in the gladly surrendered heart of the Christian (Romans Chs.6,8), and despite many tribulations and trials, it is His word which wins in the spirit of the man/woman/child, who, now His, in patient perseverance is formed and moulded in the way which is apt for Him who is glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders (Exodus 15:11). The stony heart becomes a "heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 11:19-20) with which goes a divinely accorded enablement. So ... 3) dynamic righteousness, which implies the presence in functional co-operation, as with Daniel in his specialty, of the Lord in such a way that His righteous loveliness becomes more a background, constantly bringing fresh influence on one's taste, awareness, like the baby brain cells, in their material side, responding constantly in the circuitries being developed, according to the stimulus received and the need found. (Cf. Daniel 10:5-9, and notice how strength is arranged for him, after this overwhelming vision, 10:18. So too see Ephesians 3:16, Galatians 2:19-20, Philippians 2:13, Ephesians 3:20, I Corinthians 15:10.)

4) taught righteousness - the precepts, principles, parables and prophecies, as well as the observations one may make as one considers these in relation to the events transpiring in the world. See Psalm 119. This is no mere instruction of data, though it is not less; for in verses 119:37-40, 92, 103-104, 165 we see the combination of delight, duty, understanding, revival and comfort, perspective and purity which works in the heart of the Christian, strengthening, while the Spirit of God Himself attests, invests and refreshes (Romans 8, Acts 3:19, Isaiah 32:15-17, Philippians 4:13, II Corinthians 3:16-18, John 14:21-23). There is a profound alliance (Acts 5:32) between the Lord and His Spirit, the Father and the Son, His word and the converted heart of man: the former, the Trinity, but a trinity in action; the latter the field, but a field under cultivation.

5) the loveliness of righteousness - this is a phrase to cover its attractive and drawing force, which in itself is a further moulding, but is more than this, for moulding or not, it is there.

It corresponds with elements of what Paul calls the fragrance of Christ (II Corinthians 2:14), death to the dying and life to the living (2:15); but it is also inclusive of the magnificence of the Lord in His wonderful character and grace, so that it is like a fire (cf. Isaiah 6). Whether or not you are near enough to be warmed, it continues to blaze. See Psalm 145: