Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

[b]Does Our Righteousness Exceed the Pharisee's?

Matt.5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
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What indeed was the righteousness of the Pharisees? Are we a person that reads this portion of our bible and assumes that the Pharisees were self-righteous, and evil towards Christ and his disciples and think that is what Christ was saying here?

Matthew 16:6 Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
Well, it isn’t at all! The Pharisees had a righteousness, just as Christian have a righteousness, but if we don’t understand the word righteousness then the subject becomes convoluted leading to errors in our entire thinking about God’s word the bible.

Luke 17:20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The Kingdom of God doesn't come with observation;

[b][u]The Word Righteous[/u][/b]

The word righteous comes from being right with God, but the question is how can a sinner be right with God. They cannot, so God must intervene and make away for human’s to be right with him so he can deal with us sinner, because we all fall short of God’s glory, which means we all sin!

1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
That is the context of Christ statement those listening to Christ must have a greater righteousness than the Pharisees not that the Pharisees had no righteousness as many conclude.

Hebrews 5:13 For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby.

[b][u]The Righteousness of the Pharisees[/u][/b]

The righteousness of the Pharisees was the law that they were given, a God given position to teach and uphold the righteous law of God. The law of God given through Moses and was God's righteousness expressed through the law to Israel. No sinner could keep God's law, it was impossible. Subsequently, God must make a provision so the people could be right with God, although being a sinner against God's law, how?

Galatians 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.

To be right before God was to be righteous with God's so one would not be destroyed for their sins of the flesh. That required God's mercy in kindly given Israel innocent life to purchase their transgression against God's law.

Hebrews 13:11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside of the camp.{Leviticus 16:27}

Once innocent blood was spelled for sin the person was right temporarily, but not permanently. Hence, not “ once fall all times”! One can quickly see that the righteousness of the Pharisees was not enough to enter into the righteous new heavens, which animal blood was only temporarily fix for sin. Thus, Christ was the reality of complete salvation from sin pictured in the innocent blood of animals.

Hebrews 10:4 For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
Hebrews 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.

[b][u]Opening a New Living Way
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Christ then is speaking within that context of his Surmon on the Mount, which made it abundantly clear he was the fulfillment of the temporarily righteousness of the old law (the blood), which was set right by animal blood as a shadow. Instead Chris was the bettere righteousness
his own righteous life create in God's imagine, without sin, being an innocent victim for all the judgments of unrighteous fleshes transgression made against God's law. Christ was the permanent answered, once for all times!

Hebrews 8:10 "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel. After those days," says the Lord; "I will put my laws into their mind, I will also write them on their heart. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Hebrews 9:15 For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Hebrews 10:20 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

Christ would be a perfect sinless man that completed what no other person was capable of doing, which was living under the law, without sin, fulfilling all its requirements, finishing the contract, putting it away, once for all times and bring in a new living way to worship God in Spirit and truth. Subsequently, if those listening to Christ words did not accept the better righteousness of Christ blood they could not enter into a new living way. There was not enough righteousness in animal blood one must exceed that righteousness to enter into a new living way.

Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

What is a new living way? This is where most of the Pharisees failed they wanted the old dead way written upon stone. They preferred a relationship based upon truth of God's law, an analytical approach to God, and their lives with their brothers and sisters rather than a personal intimate association with eternal life, Christ Jesus in Spirit and truth teaching them as promised by God. Most choses human teachers of powerful men in their flesh under sin of the law that could not be kept in the first place by sinners.

2Cor. 3:2 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3:3 being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh.
3:4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God; 3:5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; 3:6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 3:7 But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which was passing away: 3:8 won't service of the Spirit be with much more glory? 3:9 For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.

Yes, Christ was the living way, why? Because he was put to death in the flesh, not for sin, but our judgment and our redemption from sin to remove it once for all times. He was then made alive in the spirit! Yes, Christ could die no more, never again, he was eternal, and incorruptible, never to perish in any manner again.

Heb.1:1 God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
1:2 has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.
1:3 His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification for our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Romans 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
Hebrews 1:11 They will perish, but you continue. They all will grow old like a garment does.
Colossians 2:22 (all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men?

Now those accepting the new living way, that is, Christ righteousness, and not the laws. Were given freely the eternal life of Christ in them, and they in him to sanctify and to be made holy, by Spirit, and truth. which is Christ life in heaven; for us to be part of the new heavens created by Christ righteousness, in an new living way. Yes, God said he was making all things new. He did not say some old and some new is good, but faithful and true are his own words, “I am making all things new!”

Luke 22:20 Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place.

2 Corinthians 3:6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
Revelation 21:5 He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." He said, "Write, for these words of God are faithful and true."

[b][u]The End of Death
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The old law, written on stone void of Spirit and truth, void of what truth? God's love was dead in the law which was sins judgment, God's wrath was its truth, and not his tender loving kindness towards us as a Father. The law caused death in all sinners, it did not conquer death it incited death in us.

Revelation 1:18 and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades{or, Hell}.
1 Peter 3:18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

Hebrews 2:14 Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.

Hebrews 2:9 But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.

2 Timothy 1:10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the Good News.

Colossians 1:22 yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and blameless before him.
1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

Christ ended death when ending the law, that is, its judgments of our flesh that cannot stop sinning. Those in Christ were made part of Christ eternal imperishable life, once for all times, a superior righteousness allowing them to be raised in Christ seated above in Spirit and truth.

Rom. 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.{NU omits "who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit"} 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.

Death ended once for all times for those in Christ, Hades was conquered the place all are going at death (gave), because God did not let Christ remain long in Hades he conquered Hades for us by giving us a new living way into his eternal life that taste death for all of us that accept the superior righteousness of Christ. Nothing was left undone by Christ righteousness. Nothing is yet to be completed in Christ he is the finish work of God.

Romans 6:9 knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him!

Romans 6:10 For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God.

Romans 5:17 For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:21 that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

[b][u]Returning to Vomit[/u][/b]

Those living in dead works of the flesh that Christ put away under sin of the flesh return to vomit of the sins of the flesh which cannot be removed by works of law. They roll in sin of the flesh thinking that they can be made righteous in the flesh by righteous laws found in their bibleds. Something the Pharisees continued to practice once they thought they had gotten rid of Christ, got him out of the way. Their righteousness was self-righteousness in dead works of the flesh proven by the law it could not stop sinning or be made righteous, the fix was in the innocent blood of animals, which no longer was accept by God because he replaced it by Christ blood, and/or righteousness.

Romans 9:32 Why? Because they didn't seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone;
They chose the practice of sin over the complete redemptive work of Christ righteous life given freely from God to all mankind who take advantage of Christ new Spirit life reserved in heaven for those loving God.

Jude 1:20 But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 1:9 receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.

1 Peter 1:5 who by the power of God are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 2:22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, "The dog turns to his own vomit again,"{Proverbs 26:11} and "the sow that has washed to wallowing in the mire."

The law was dead works for the flesh, and it no longer enforced by God or Christ, why? Because God is not partial a judge with two sets of scales. He is the same today as he was yesterday. One judge, one law, not many laws at the sametime. Those adding yeast to the law of Christ are vastly deceived into believing something good dwells in their flesh that will save them, not a bible teaching.

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the fulfillment{or, completion, or end} of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Romans 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.
Yes, indeed, our righteousness must be greater than the Pharisees or we will not enter into God's new heavens, and/or his new earth. We must accept Christ as our only salvation, for he is the new covenant, the new law, the only way into life, one faith, one Spirit, and one God!

1 Corinthians 3:11 For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours.

1 Corinthians 6:17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit.

1 Corinthians 8:6 yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through him.

Christ is our new father that replaces Adam whom was created from God's love, but deny God's love. Yes, God is restoring all things new, as was true of Adam's birth from God into a beautiful paradise of love and kindness, as Christ is our loving kindness from God, our spiritual Paradise, not a religion, a book, a person, or place, or things.

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

1 Corinthians 15:45 So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul."{Genesis 2:7} The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

If we are mediating the laws of the flesh, we are wittingly or unwittingly mediate the old covenant with a inferior righteousness, we have not exceed the righteousness of the Pharisee's.

Let us as we are called to do, mediate the new covenant, the superior glory and righteousness that should work in us, and the letters of Christ work in them we teach.

2 John 1:3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

2 Peter 3:14 Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without blemish and blameless in his sight.

1 Peter 1:2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, whether things on the earth, or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross.