Sermon: Rectitude
by Chris Cumming
This is a sermon about righteousness. The title, “Rectitude” means
“rightness of principle or conduct; moral virtue.” It means,
“correctness” and “straightness.” God’s command to us is to be
righteous.
Be righteous.
I am taking this sermon exclusively from the 104-page document posted at
the Vegas web site titled,
‘How To’ Instructions in Righteousness.
Introduction
Each of the elements you study here are part of a greater whole. None stand alone. As you study the first element, keep in mind that it is just one part and must be added to the next and the next until you see the full model of Righteousness. Once you begin approaching this "greater whole", remember that Righteousness is a fruit of the Spirit and therefore is infinite.
You will readily see that every element is connected to all the others. They dovetail and are all part of a single array.
The hope here is that as you begin to master each element and put them together in your heart and mind, making them both habit and part of your character, you will find the path approaching Righteousness easier to travel.
What is the Bible definition of righteousness?
By Garner Ted Armstrong [excerpt from Armor of God booklet]
David said, "My tongue shall speak of Thy word, for all Thy commandments are RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Psalm 119:172). The Ten Commandments of God are, by biblical definition, "righteousness."
God is Righteous. David prayed, "Righteous art Thou, O Eternal, and upright are Thy judgments. Thy testimonies that Thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful" (Psalm 119:137,138).
The Ten Commandments comprise God's most basic laws. The first four tell us how to love God, while the last six tell us how to love our fellow man. The "testimonies" of God spoken of by David comprise every word God ever spoke. The Bible itself is the "testimony" of God.
Jesus said, when defeating Satan by using God's armor, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God!" (Matthew 4:4). Satan had just asked Jesus, Who was on the brink of starvation, to miraculously turn stones into warm, fragrant bread to eat. Christ countered Satan's evil thrust into Christ's mind, trying to tempt Jesus to give in to the power of the devil, by the Word of God. Christ, through forty days and nights of fasting and prayer, was heavily armored against Satan's darts and spears.
"Every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" means the entire "testimony" of God. It means all the Bible.
Modern philosophers sneer and scoff at God's laws. To millions, moral relativism is the order of the day. To them, every conceivable human situation, from murder to rape, from lying to abortion, "depends" upon circumstances.
But they are merely educated fools, without the knowledge of God, and with no fear of God.
Millions of humans, in dozens of societies, know the difference between "right" and "wrong." Hundreds of human societies know it is wrong to steal from one another, wrong to murder someone, wrong to be disobedient to parents.
Lacking God's law, they are a "law unto themselves." Paul wrote, "For when the Gentiles [nations], which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another" (Romans 2:14,15).
God has given to humanity a conscience. It is a part of human nature, when living together in a community, to seek the most functional method of harmony, mutual protection, productivity, and happiness. Therefore, many human societies, "do by NATURE the things contained in the law."
This is merely to illustrate the point that all human societies, to some degree or other, recognize the difference between right and wrong. By no means is this biblical righteousness, but it certainly gives the lie to "situation ethics," and the simpering excuses of liberal extremists who would make sodomy an act of love, and the murder of millions of the unborn a "choice" for young mothers.
God's Word clearly points out what is "righteousness." It is living by every word of God (Matthew 4:4); living according to God's perfect law; living the life of Christ; living a life of faith, of love, and of obedience!
# |
Lesson |
Key verse [ table in biblical order] |
1 |
Genesis 17:1 |
|
2 |
Exodus 20:8 |
|
3 |
Deuteronomy 5:16 |
|
4 |
Be strong and courageous to do
according to the law. |
Joshua 1:7 |
5 |
Envy not sinners. |
Proverbs 23:17 |
6 |
Be not over righteous or wise. |
Ecclesiastes 7:16-17 |
7 |
Overcome sin. |
Ezekiel 18:31 |
8 |
Matthew. 3:8; Luke 3:8 |
|
9 |
Matthew 4:4 |
|
10 |
Be poor of spirit. |
Matthew 5:3-12 |
11 |
Matthew 7:13-14 |
|
12 |
Matthew 22:11-14 |
|
13 |
Love God with all thy
heart, soul, strength and mind. |
Matthew 22:37-39
(also Luke 10:27) |
14 |
Mark 11:22 |
|
15 |
John 14:15 |
|
16 |
Romans 8:29
with 2 Corinthians 3:18 |
|
17 |
-Be not conformed to this
world. |
Romans 12:2 |
18 |
Overcome evil with good [displace
the evil by invoking good]. |
Romans 12:21
|
19 |
-Be a follower of Christ. |
1 Corinthians 11:1 |
20 |
Be steadfast, unmovable and always
abounding in the Work of the Lord. |
1 Corinthians 15:58 |
|
Put on Christ. |
Galatians 3:27
|
21 |
Ephesians 4:24 |
|
22 |
Be kind to one another. Be
tenderhearted. Forgive one another. |
Ephesians 4:32 |
23 |
Ephesians 5:1 |
|
24 |
Walk circumspectly. |
Ephesians 5:15-17 |
25 |
Ephesians 6:11 |
|
26 |
Philippians 2:5 |
|
27 |
Put on mercy. |
Colossians 3:12-14
|
28 |
Let the peace of God rule in your
heart.
|
Colossians 3:15 |
29 |
1 Thessalonians 5:18 |
|
30 |
1 Thessalonians 5:19 |
|
31 |
Prove all things. Hold fast that which
is good. |
1 Thessalonians 5:21 |
32 |
1 Thessalonians 5:22 |
|
33 |
Be thou an example of the
believers.
|
1 Timothy 4:12-13
[see Lesson
12 and
13] |
34 |
Keep this commandment.
Be unrebukeable. Be without spot. |
1 Timothy 6:14
[see
Lesson 14]
|
35 |
2 Timothy 1:8-9
[see Lessons
8 and
9] |
|
36 |
James 1:22 |
|
37 |
Visit the fatherless. |
James 1:27 |
38 |
|
James 4:10 |
39 |
James 5:8 |
|
40 |
1 Peter 1:15-16 |
|
41 |
Be of one mind. |
1 Peter 3:8
|
42 |
Be sober. |
1 Peter 4:7 |
43 |
Have: |
2 Peter 1:1-8 |
44 |
2 Peter 1:10 |
|
45 |
Be faithful unto death.
|
Revelation 2:10 |
46 |
Remember what you have received and heard. [from the Word of God].
Hold fast. |
Revelation 3:3 |
47 |
Revelation 18:4 |
This whole sermon is just an introduction into the subject. So go now and
immerse yourself.
Be righteous.