Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture has continued his foundations series with a discussion about righteousness. Previously his definitions of faith and covenant were examined and found to be based on nothing more than works. Jesus Christ was nowhere to be found in either of those definitions. It is no wonder then that Jesus Christ features nowhere in Tim's definition of righteousness. Let's break it down.
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FOUNDATIONSWhat Is Righteousness?The word “righteousness” is often used in Scripture, but many believers today struggle to define it.
What proof is there that "many believers today struggle to define" righteousness? This sweeping claim frames the global Church as historically illiterate as a bid to justify Tim's self-appointed role as a "restorer of truth." However, Tim is not restoring anything. Truth wasn't lost, it was simply rejected by those, such as Tim, who prefer the Law over Grace.
Is righteousness simply being a good person?Is it an idea?A feeling?A religious status?The Bible gives a very clear answer.Genesis 18:19Speaking of Abraham, Yahuah said:“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of YAHUAH, to do justice and judgment…”Righteousness is connected with walking in the way of Yahuah and teaching that way to the next generation. For Abraham obeyed His voice and kept His commandments, statutes, and laws (Gen. 26:5).It is not private belief alone.It is a life lived according to His ways.Deuteronomy 6:25Scripture defines it even more directly:“And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before YAHUAH our Elohim, as he hath commanded us.”
Clearly Tim is not defining righteousness. He is attempting to define what it means TO BE righteous. That is very important distinction. It is the distinction between the act of justification and the work of sanctification. See how he lists "a religious state" as a definition he apparently rejects. We are justified by faith apart from the law. That is a state of being.
Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Sanctification is the outworking of that justification through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Hebrews tells us that the sacrifice of Christ perfects (justifies) us and sanctification follows. This underscores that our righteousness is a completed past-tense reality in Christ, whereas Tim’s definition makes it an ongoing, uncertain future goal based on our obedience. .
The righteousness Tim describes is one of law keeping. The law makes us righteous. Abraham was righteous because he kept the law.
16:44 Abraham kept the law and the sabbath. And so did Isaac and Jacob. I mean how can they be called righteous if there was no law by which they could be judged as righteous? The very notion is ridiculous from the start.
However, the Bible tells us NO ONE is righteous.
Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
That is righteous through our own doing. Because there is no righteousness is us it must be imputed to us from without. Abraham was DECLARED to be righteous because of his faith.
Romans 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
That is Bible 101 and Tim calls it ridiculous from the start!
Biblically speaking, righteousness is not a vague concept.It is living according to the commandments of Elohim.Psalm 119The longest chapter in Scripture repeats the same truth again and again:• Your law is truth• Your commandments are righteous• Your statutes lead to lifePsalm 119 teaches that the Word of Yah is the standard of righteousness. It never teaches His law as bondage!
This is all wrong. While the law does represent a standard of righteousness it is one which is unattainable and condemns. The law reveals sin.
Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Keeping the law does not make men righteous.
Galatians 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
And yes, Paul does call the law bondage.
Galatians 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Peter calls the law a yoke which the nation of Israel was unable to bear.
Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Again, for Tim, to be righteous is to keep the law. It has nothing to do with Jesus Christ.
Matthew 5Messiah confirmed the same foundation.In the Sermon on the Mount He taught:“Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”Yahusha did not abolish righteousness.Pharisees did and they are defined as the benchmark, generally, for not saved because their manner is not righteousness.He called His followers to live it from the heart.
Jesus didn't abolish righteousness? Who said he did? Note that Jesus says our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. That is not an admonition but a rhetorical device indicating it's impossibility. As we saw above the Bible declares there are none righteous.
So how does one become righteous? Through the imputation of the righteousness of Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ was righteous. What made him righteous was not his adherence to the law but the nature of His very person which is the second person of the Holy Trinity. He is intrinsically righteous. He says we can share in that same righteousness.
John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
The same glory that the Father gives the Son is also given to us.
2 Cor 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
On the cross Jesus took our sins upon him and paid our debt. In return His righteousness is imputed to us. This imputation is done through faith.
Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Verse 21 undoes all of Tim's definition. The righteous of God without the law has been manifested and is witnessed by the law! The law is a school master to lead us to Jesus Christ. To teach we are made righteous by keeping the law is to make the work of Christ of no effect.
1 Cor 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Christ and Christ ALONE is our righteousness. And He is totally absent from Tim's definition.
The FoundationTrue righteousness is:• Knowing the ways of Yah• Walking in His commandments• Loving His truth• Living it from the heartIt is not religion.It is relationship expressed through obedience.This Week’s ReadingTake time to read and meditate on:• Genesis 18:19• Deuteronomy 6:25• Psalm 119• Matthew 5Let Scripture define righteousness.Foundations Series – Week 10Because truth must be built on the right foundation.Yah Bless.
That is Tim's conclusion. I agree the scripture should define righteousness and "truth must be built on the right foundation." However, Tim has erected a faulty foundation on sand. There is no truth here. This definition of righteousness is completely man-centered and leaves out Jesus Christ! As we have seen Tim also omitted Jesus Christ in his previous definitions of faith and covenant. For him it is all about keeping the law. If Tim is right then Christ died in vain.
Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
A Christian foundation that doesn't require Christ is not a foundation, it's a legalistic facade. There is no place or need for Jesus Christ to have faith, be in covenant with God, or to be righteous according to this scheme. Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture teaches a gospel that is fundamentally Christless, graceless, and faithless.
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