15 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. Matthew 3:13-15
Last week we talked about what and who is righteous. Righteousness is of God. He alone is righteous; no one else nor can anyone be. He is the embodiment of all righteousness. But thank God He provided his righteousness to all who believe. James 2:23
Today we are looking at how and why Jesus fulfilled all righteousness. We begin with the why. The Kingdom of God is the primary and principal reason why Jesus came to fulfill all righteousness. He said “… seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 All these things (food, drink, cloths, or properties and prosperity) shall be a gift to you also, if the righteousness of God is your priority. The prosperity of life without the Kingdom of God does not qualify for the sacrifice of Jesus. (for what to does it profit a man) Remember you are made righteous (not by your own works but) by faith in Jesus Christ. It is all by grace or gift of God through Christ. This is the reason why He came to fulfill all righteousness. “For I say to you, (Jesus said) that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20” You can be self-righteous in your ministry or profession, but you are nowhere near the kingdom of God unless the righteousness of God is front and center of your faith, hope, and love of God. Because the kingdom of God is only for the righteous before God. Matt. 13:43, 25:46
How did Jesus fulfill all righteousness? From the point where Jesus said, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” To when He said, “It is finished!” John 19:30 He went about doing good and sharing the love of God. He saved the poor and the rich who believed on him, like Lazarus and Zacchaeus. He healed the sick like the woman with issues of blood, the blind, the lepers, and the sin sick like Mary Magdalene. Then He said “… the works which the Father has given Me to finish —the very works that I do—bear witness of Me,” John 5:36 And when Jesus accomplished the work He said to God, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.” John 17:4
The Lord Jesus showed us how He started, finished the works of the righteousness of God and gave account to God. And when he was asked, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” John 6:28-29 You can pause right now, repent, believe, and accept Jesus for the works He has done. 17 For … the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17 The righteousness of God is not by the works we do, but the faith we have in the work which Jesus did and love we share with one another. Because, by this (people will) know that you are My disciples if you believe in me and have love for one another.” John 13:35 The righteousness of God is a gift from God to you and I. This divine gift is Jesus who is the righteous branch of God. Jesus was happy when his disciple said, “By this we believe that you came forth from God.” and He answered, “Do you now believe” This is point where Jesus headed to the cross to finish the work which God had sent him. And this is where we also must begin, continue, and conclude the work. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 This is what the righteousness of God is, and how to fulfill it. Keep the faith and the good work. God bless you.