I John 3:10-15
John has used the word “righteous/righteousness” five times in yesterday’s and today’s readings, plus twice more in the last verse of chapter 2 (the immediate precedent to yesterday’s reading) – so seven times over a span of thirteen verses. Which begs the question, “What does it mean to be righteous?” An online definition says “to be morally right or justifiable”, with synonyms good, virtuous, upright, upstanding, decent, etc. Continuing with the same online page, “The word righteous in the New Testament … means observing divine laws or upright, faultless, innocent, and guiltless.” I think we’re back to where we were yesterday – if you make a “practice of sinning”, you are being unrighteous. Righteousness on the other hand calls for confession, repentance, surrender. So where do we stand? John answers for us in verse 10: By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. Righteousness. Love.
Slava Bohu!
I was really struck by v. 14 “whoever does not love abides in death“. Very high standard, reflecting back to Mt 5:21,22, Jesus: but “I say to you, whoever hates another is a murderer”. He points to the intent behind the commands, not just the physical rule/behavior.
Hmmm… righteousness = confession, repentance, surrender… and true love for others.
I find myself being less and less able to feel like I “make the grade” of righteous living.
It astonishes me how little I measure up to the love modeled by Jesus! Thanking God for his mercy and grace!!!