Picture of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus came in an e-mail author unknown

Righteousness By: Frances M. McCrory-Meservy October 1982

I've heard righteousness taught in many ways but there is only one simple thing that makes us righteousness.  Trust (believe) what God says.  It is no more complicated than that.  If the Bible says it, that's all I need to know - no ifs, ands or buts.  God's word is my final authority - I believe every word he says. 

The first thing we are to do after we accept Jesus and trust (believe what he says) him is to be baptized.  Being baptized does not make us righteous - it fulfills all righteousness because we have taken our first step in obedience to God's word.

After the above we walk in God's righteousness because Jesus made us right with God.  He stands between us and the Father.  When the Father looks at us, he sees Jesus and his righteousness.

Al was pastor of a small church in Angleton, TX for almost a year while they searched for a full time pastor.  God did a Good work through Al while he was there. 

We knew a wonderful lady there who had accepted Jesus years before but had never been baptized.  Al talked to her about why she needed to be baptized and she allowed him to baptize her.  She came alive. 

She had been bearing fruit so we knew she was a Christian but after she was baptized God anointed her with power and energy that was unbelievable.  She started teaching a Sunday School class and helping in other ways. 

She also could not get enough of Jesus.  She was either in church or reading his word.  Her husband (who was not a Christian) thought she was having an affair.  Al went and talked to him and helped him realize that she was having an affair but it was with God.  He did not have a problem with that.

Righteousness - a step out into grace and power that only comes from obeying God.  If you believe what he says, you will obey him.  If you love him, you will obey him. 

Rom 4:19-25 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

Mat 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

John 14:12-18 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. "If you love Me, keep My commandments. "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever; "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.