Jesus’ Love for Righteousness (Mid-Week Bible Study)

Series: Becoming Like Jesus

Introduction:

The life of Jesus is the foundation of the believer and the perfect reference for our daily living. With the limitations of a mortal man, we are astonished as to how He was able to do great and mighty things, miracles, signs, and wonders. While he came from heaven, he lived on earth as human as anyone was however, we find understanding in how he was able to do these great deeds in Hebrews 1:9, sheds light on how Jesus became anointed with the oil of gladness above others. One of the we ways he did this was by loving righteousness!

Purpose: to understand Jesus’ love for righteousness as depicted in Hebrews 1:9 and its significance in our lives today.

Objective: that we may have a deeper appreciation of Jesus’ commitment to righteousness and be inspired to love righteousness like Him.

Key Terms:

• What is love and what are the proof that someone loves something?
  • Love is patient, love is kind. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Where all of these exists, there is Love.
  • Evidence of love: John 3:16, Matthew 26:39.
• What is righteousness?
  • The word most often translated “righteousness” can also mean “justice, justness, or divine holiness.” In the broadest sense, righteousness can be defined as “the condition of being acceptable to God as made possible by God.” God’s standard is what defines true righteousness; His power is what enables it 2 Corinthians 5:21. Romans 5:1-2. To be righteous is to be right with God.
  • It was this passion to be in oneness with God that we consider today. In we the redeemed, righteousness is not things you do to get you saved (we are saved by grace) but that which you do because you are saved. One of the essences of our salvation is to get the power to live and do what is right in this world. Gal 5:22-23. I Peter 1:24, I Peter 1:15-17

Doing Righteousness vs Loving Righteousness 1 John 3:7

There is a difference between doing righteousness and loving righteousness. A child can obey his father without loving to obey. Jesus did not just do righteousness, He loved righteousness.

Doing Righteousness refers to performing acts that align with moral and divine laws. It involves adhering to rules, commandments, and ethical standards.

• Motivation: The motivation behind doing righteousness can vary. It might stem from a sense of duty, fear of punishment, or a desire for reward. For instance, people may obey traffic laws to avoid fines or penalties rather than out of a genuine love for safety and order.
• Example: Think about how many drivers adhere to speed limits. According to Speeding statistics from The Zebra’s research, 9 in 10 drivers admit to speeding, despite 82% believing it’s dangerous and 35% considering it always unacceptable. Many drivers obey speed limits not because they love driving safely but to avoid the consequences of breaking the law. Their actions reflect a compliance with the law rather than a heartfelt commitment to safety.

Loving Righteousness goes beyond mere compliance. It involves a deep, intrinsic love for what is right and just, as defined by God. It’s a passionate commitment to uphold God’s standards, not out of fear or obligation, but out of genuine affection and dedication.

• Motivation: The motivation for loving righteousness is rooted in a sincere desire to please God and align oneself with His nature. This love manifests in a natural inclination to do what is right because it reflects one’s innermost values and beliefs. (When we dabble into unrighteousness, we inconvenient the God in us, we trample on the Spirit of Grace) Our motivation should be doing that which pleases God. Psalm 19:14
• Example: Jesus exemplified loving righteousness. He didn’t just act righteously; He embodied righteousness in everything He did. His actions were driven by a profound love for God’s ways and a desire to fulfill God’s will. This is evident in passages like:
  • Jesus’ Prayer John 17:4
  • Jesus’ Sinlessness Hebrews 4:15 (His ability to resist sin, despite facing all human temptations, underscores His love for righteousness). Example in Theophilus Sunday and accepting gift only if the Holy Spirit directs him.
  • Jesus’ Suffering (1 Peter 2:22-23)

Application in Our Lives

• Personal Reflection: Reflect on your own motivations for doing righteous acts. Are they driven by obligation or a genuine love for what is right?
• Transforming Motivation: We seek to cultivate a love for righteousness by drawing closer to God through prayer, studying His word, and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our heart. As we grow in our relationship with God, our actions will increasingly reflect a genuine love for righteousness rather than mere compliance.

There is no partiality with God

• 1 Peter 2:21, Colossians 1:15-21, 2 Corinthians 5:12-14.
• A good father treats all his children equally, showing no favoritism. Just as he rewards his eldest son, he will reward all his children in the same way. God the Father operates similarly. Jesus, being the First-born among many brothers, sets the precedent. God, who is impartial, will do for us what He did for Jesus, provided we meet the same conditions Jesus met. This profound truth about God’s fairness is revealed through understanding the humanity of Christ. If we, like Jesus, love righteousness, we too will be anointed by God.
• This love for righteousness has a price, it will cost us Matthew 19:29.
• The Beatitude (Matthew 5:10-12), Persecution (2 Timothy 3:12), Suffering (1 Peter 4:12-14), Resistance and Chastening (Hebrews 12:3-4), Joint heirs, “co-sufferers” (Romans 8:17-18)

Reward for righteousness.

• Matt 5:6. Jesus loved righteousness and was rewarded for it. The anointing comes by loving righteousness
• Isaiah, 61:1-3, Acts 10:38, 1 John 2:27, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

Conclusion:

Understanding the difference between doing righteousness and loving righteousness helps us appreciate the depth of Jesus’ commitment to righteousness. He didn’t just follow God’s laws; He loved them deeply. As believers, we are called to move beyond mere obedience to developing a heartfelt passion for righteousness, inspired by Jesus’ example.