| Remarks on Righteousness |
| Old Testament |
| Psalm 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD. Under the Old Testament, blood sacrifices were required. Beginning with Abel's sacrifice through the sacrifices commanded through Moses that ended with Jesus' sacrifice upon the cross, God required blood sacrifices from the people. The blood of bulls and goats and lambs and turtledoves flowed from the Tabernacle and the Temple. Yet, there was another sacrifice that God always required of His people: righteousness. In fact, that is what separated the sacrifices of Cain and Abel. "By faith Abel offered a more perfect sacrifice." God through Isaiah rebuked the people for failing in their sacrifices of righteousness when they brought their sacrifices and worship before Him. [Isaiah 1:10-20] Righteousness is obedience to God. "And Samuel said, Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry..." [1 Samuel 22,23] "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world: but you be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." [Romans 12:1-2] "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." [Acts 20:32] |
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