Righteousness Study

   "Christ our Righteousness" as it is preached, "Behold, the days come, says Jehovah, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and act wisely, and shall do justice and righteousness on the earth. In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely. And this is his name by which He shall be called, Jehovah our Righteousness." (Jeremiah 23:5,6). This is from the J.P. Green Interlinear Bible and the KJV is very similar (except "Lord" replaces "Jehovah"), which is also the way most of the common Bibles are translated, but the original Hebrew text with God's name Jehovah represented sheds a different light on the entire verse. In most Bibles the Old Testament "Jehovah" (God's personal name) is most often substituted with "Lord", "LORD" or "God", but not just a few times, the King James Version substitutes God's personal name to the amount of 6743 times, replacing the original Hebrew text. The name "Jehovah" is always the name of God Almighty, and this point is confirmed, without question in Deuteronomy, "Hear, O Israel, Jehovah our God is one Jehovah." (Deut. 6:4) and "And when Abram was 99 years old, Jehovah appeared to Abram and said to him, I am the Almighty God! Walk before Me and be perfect." (Genesis 17:1). Jeremiah 23:5,6 (above) now becomes confusing because according to this verse in the KJV translation, Jesus is considered to be "the righteous Branch" in verse 5, then in verse 6 it states He (Jesus) is to be called " Jehovah (Lord KJV) our Righteousness" as the Hebrew text is translated. Looking at this as it is translated, this would present a contradiction with the rest of the God's word, therefore, there must be an alteration by man and not by Christ, who inspired all the Bible writers, being the "Word of God". In order to translate this correctly, to be Biblically consistent, one word needs to be corrected. Using the Strong's Concordance Dictionary section, we need to look at Strong's #7121. The KJV translates #7121 as "whereby He shall be called" but looking at the available English translations for, #7121 qara; a prim. root [rather ident. with 7122 through the idea of accosting a person met]; to call out to (e.i. prop. address  by name, but used in a wide variety of applications): - bewray [self], that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim (-action), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say. Using the list, "He shall be called" isn't present, but "call out" "preach" or "proclaim" are the most logical meanings to remain consistent with the rest of the Bible, reading, "...And this is the name which He calls out (proclaims, preaches), Jehovah our Righteousness." (Jeremiah 23:6). "He shall be" was added to #7121 "call" to suite man's desired meaning, not according to Christ's desired meaning. The common Bibles having inserted "Lord" for God's personal name, this would allow it to be acceptable to the reader that Jesus, being the righteousness Branch, can be called "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS", without the presence of God's name, but with the correct use of God's personal name in Jeremiah 23:5,6, the "Righteous Branch (Christ)", who is the one calling out or preaching, "JEHOVAH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" is the logical intended meaning and would be consistent with all of God's word. Man's adjustment of the truth of God's word is contrary to Christ's intended meaning and should not be acceptable to anyone seeking God, loving God and following Jesus. Christ is telling us who is to be our righteousness, that is His Father, Almighty God, Jehovah. Those believing that God Almighty is One, as it is abundantly presented in the Hebrew text, having a personal name "Jehovah" is exclusively for the Father, Almighty God and this understanding is also present in the New Testament, even though His personal name is never given, "But the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. For the Father also seeks such ones that worship Him." (John 4:23), "And Phillip said to Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us. Jesus said to him, Am I so long a time with you and you have not known Me, Phillip? The one seeing Me has seen the Father! And how do you say, Show me the Father?" (John 14:8,9). Some use this verse to prove that Jesus is our Father and our God, but this is explained in the second part of this verse, "The one seeing Me has seen the Father" because the Son of God is just as the Father. And, "But Jehovah is the true God. He is the living God, and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nation shall not be able to stand His indignation." (Jeremiah 10:10), plus 50 other verses stating a slight variation in wording of the same information. The Bible, God's word, must be consistent from beginning to end; perfection demands this, and without perfection and consistency, can we trust, depend and believe our living God?

   There is similar a translation error, "For a child is born; to us a Son is given; and the government is on His shoulder; and His name is called, Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6). This is how my Bible reads, and the KJV is very similar, however, knowing that there is only one God, the Father of His begotten Son, then this verse could not be accurate, again this must be an incorrect translation from the Hebrew to English. Let's look at what can apply to Jesus, first "Wonderful" Christ certainly is, "Counselor" for sure, "Mighty God" I can only agree that He is the "Mighty Son of God", knowing that there is only one Almighty God, who is Jehovah, by name. "Everlasting Father" this could not be correct, there can only be one "Father" of humanity, revealed at creation, "And Jehovah God formed man out of the dust from the ground, and blew into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7) and from the words of Christ, "And call no one father on earth, for one is your Father, the One in Heaven." (Matthew 23:9), and the last one "Prince of Peace" this can also apply to the Christ. Not all these titles can apply to the Son of God, but all can apply to the Almighty God, Jehovah. We need to consider the two Hebrew words in question, "is called" again, Strong's #7121, refer above to the list in "purple". From the list "is called" is not listed, but, call, mention, proclaim and publish applies very well. Next is, "His name" #8034: shem: prim. word [perh. rather from 7760 through the idea of def. and conspicuous position; comp. 8064]; an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by impl. honor, authority character: - + base, [in-] fame [- ous], named (-d), renown, report. From the list: "name", "authority" and "character" does work well. And putting the two words together, this should read, "proclaiming (or calling out) the name, (character or authority) wonderful counselor, mighty God... " All these names can only apply to the God and Father, Jehovah. I see too much liberty has been taken in translating these two verses to promote man's agenda in promoting Jesus as Creator, Father and God, fitting the Trinity concept, but contrary to what is consistent with the all of God's word.

    "He who walks upright and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart;" (Psalm 15:2), righteousness is an act of doing, beyond a desire, intention or a promise to be upright. "Riches do not prophet in the day of wrath; but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the perfect shall make his way right; but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them; but traitors shall be taken in their lust." (Proverbs 11:4-6). Righteousness and salvation are linked together, "So says Jehovah: Keep justice and do righteousness, for My salvation is near to come, and My righteousness to be revealed." (Isaiah 56:1). From what standard is righteousness drawn, only by the law of God, "he has walked in My statutes and has kept My judgments to deal truly, he is righteous; surely he shall live, declares the Lord Jehovah." (Ezekiel 18:9), "But the wicked, if he will turn from all his sins which he has done, and keep all My statutes and do justice and righteousness, surely he will live..." (Ezekiel 18:21,22) and in the New Testament, "By this the children of God and the children of the Devil are revealed: everyone not practicing righteousness is not of God; also the one not loving his brother." (I John 3:10). As one can see, nothing has changed from the Old to the New Testaments, it is still one's righteous doings, and these are your decisions to lead you to righteous actions. Faith is what leads you to righteous desires, and faith is acquired from belief, and belief is a product of learning and understanding what is right and why it is right. Faith that is blind, knowing not why, is foolishness and can lead you anywhere you allow it to lead you. Solid footing is only on the truth, which originates from God Almighty, this only is learned from seeking God's word in totality. This is how God gives us faith, when we ask and seek the foundations of truth and put them into action. The saints are the ones in the "Book of Life" and Revelation describes the saint, "Here is the patience of the saints; here are the ones keeping the commands of God and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:12) and "blessed are the ones doing His commandments, that their authority will be over the Tree of Life, and they may enter into the city by the gates." (Revelation 22:14). "And though these three men were in its midst, Noah, Daniel and Job; by their righteousness they should deliver their own souls, states the Lord Jehovah." (Ezekiel 14:14). Righteousness and salvation are for us to seek and seize. God and His Son are already perfect, our hearts are what needs changing; to be cleansed before we can be in the presence of deity, God's coming kingdom, and right now is the time given to us to accomplish this search for purification, with divine help, He is just waiting for us to ask and to move forward toward righteousness, "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." (Matthew 5:6), these were words from the lips of Jesus. "Seek Jehovah, all the meek of the earth who have done His justice; seek righteousness; seek meekness. It may be you shall be hidden in the day of the anger of Jehovah." (Zephaniah 2:3), notice that it uses "may" in this verse.

   "For Christ is the end of law for righteousness to everyone that believes." (Romans 10:4), this verse is sometimes misunderstood because of the choice of the translators. Some consider this to say that the law has been dismissed because of the word "end" but if we look at the Greek word, Strong's #5056: telos (to set out for a def. point or goal); prop. the point aimed at as a limit, i.e (by impl.), the conclusion of an act or state (termination [lit., fig. or indef.], result [immed., ultimate or prophetic], purpose); spec. an impost or levy (as paid):-- + continual, custom, end (-ing), finally, uttermost. The word "end" is a listed choice, but "goal" is a better description for the consistent meaning throughout God's word. Should we discard 9/10th of the Bible? "For Moses writes of the righteousness which is of the law: The man doing these things shall live by them." (Romans 10:5), This speaks of the doing of God's laws and the result is life, he will live because he has done according to the law, because the law is good and his desire to do God's will is acknowledging that they are good, "And we know that the law is good, if anyone uses it lawfully." (I Timothy 1:8) "By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not heavy." (I John 5:2,3). Are we pleasing God if we don't keep His Commandments, and are we pleasing the people around us? Is our heart changed if we don't activate our efforts to cleanse ourselves in preparation for the coming kingdom? "He who walks upright and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart." (Psalm 15:2). It's our heart that needs cleansing, so righteousness is what our desire should be, because God's words and commands are pure and not temporary, and doing them confirms our understanding of this.

   A term used so often throughout the Christian community is "righteousness by faith" which is a valid concept, but the way it is taught leaves much out of the entire equation. The faith that leads to righteousness is from a desire to learning God's way and believing in His word, and an understanding why His way is perfect, generating a desire in us to do righteousness, and our nature compels us to do as we desire; our passion for the truth moves us forward to do righteousness, because this pleases us, and it also pleases other, as their righteousness pleases us. Faith alone is useless, "You see that faith worked with his works, and by the works the faith was made complete." (James 2:22), praise God. "But are you willing to know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is dead." (James 2:20). Can the victims of our sins be avoided by faith alone? We surely need to "DO" righteousness to achieve righteousness. Can we borrow another's righteousness as it is sometimes taught, and experience the needed change in our heart?