I want to begin this essay with Psalm 143:8-12 (NET):<\/p>\n
May I hear about your loyal love (<\/em>\u1e25ese\u1e0f, \u05d7\u05e1\u05d3\u05da,<\/a>; Septuagint<\/a>: \u1f14\u03bb\u03b5\u1f79\u03c2<\/a>)<\/em> in the morning, for I trust in you.\u00a0 Show me the way I should go, because I long for you. \u00a0Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord!\u00a0 I run to you for protection. \u00a0Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God.\u00a0 May your kind presence (<\/em>r\u00fba\u1e25, \u05e8\u05d5\u05d7\u05da<\/a>; Septuagint<\/a>: \u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u1fe6\u03bc\u1f71<\/a>)<\/em> lead me into a level land.\u00a0 O Lord, for the sake of your reputation, revive me!\u00a0 Because of your justice (<\/em>\u1e63\u1d4a\u1e0f\u0101q\u00e2, \u05d1\u05e6\u05d3\u05e7\u05ea\u05da<\/a>; Septuagint<\/a>: \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u1f7b\u03bd\u1fc3<\/a>)<\/em>, rescue me from trouble! \u00a0As a demonstration of your loyal love (<\/em>\u1e25ese\u1e0f, \u05d5\u05d1\u05d7\u05e1\u05d3\u05da,<\/a>; Septuagint<\/a>: \u1f10\u03bb\u1f73\u03b5\u03b9<\/a>, a form of \u1f14\u03bb\u03b5\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>)<\/em>, destroy my enemies!\u00a0 Annihilate all who threaten my life, for I am your servant.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
David was probably considering other human enemies, but in this context I think it\u2019s important to view things through the eyes of the cartoon character Pogo<\/a>:\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWe have met the enemy and he is us.\u201d1<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 I hear the Mission Impossible<\/a> theme in my imagination: \u201cYour mission, should you choose to accept it\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Clearly, sinner that I am, I am my own worst enemy.\u00a0 How can I be destroyed, annihilated, rescued and revived?<\/p>\n
But now apart from the law <\/em>(\u03bd\u1f79\u03bc\u03bf\u03c5<\/a>, a form of \u03bd\u03cc\u03bc\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>), Paul continued his letter to the Romans, the righteousness <\/em>(\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u03cd\u03bd\u03b7<\/a>) of God (which is attested by the law <\/em>[\u03bd\u1f79\u03bc\u03bf\u03c5, a form of \u03bd\u03cc\u03bc\u03bf\u03c2] and the prophets) has been disclosed \u2013 namely, the righteousness <\/em>(\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u03cd\u03bd\u03b7) of God through the faithfulness <\/em>(\u03c0\u1f77\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2<\/a>, a form of \u03c0\u03af\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03c2<\/a>) of Jesus Christ for all<\/a> who believe <\/em>(\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u1f7b\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03c2<\/a>, a form of \u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9<\/a>) [Table<\/a>].2<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 The righteousness of God<\/em> as I see it these days is nothing less than the love that fulfills the law which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 It might be more than that.\u00a0 My journey doesn\u2019t fill me with confidence that I can say I have the final word on something.\u00a0 But it cannot be less.<\/p>\n
I know that I will never justify myself or be declared righteous before God by my efforts to keep his law, For no one is declared righteous <\/em>(\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03c9\u03b8\u1f75\u03c3\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9<\/a>, a form of \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03cc\u03c9<\/a>) before him<\/em> by the works <\/em>(\u1f14\u03c1\u03b3\u03c9\u03bd<\/a>, a form of \u1f14\u03c1\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd<\/a>) of the law<\/em> (\u03bd\u1f79\u03bc\u03bf\u03c5, a form of \u03bd\u03cc\u03bc\u03bf\u03c2).3<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 My own experience has confirmed over and over again that as I attempted to keep God\u2019s law by my own efforts I only got better acquainted with my sin, for through the law comes the knowledge<\/em> (\u1f10\u03c0\u03af\u03b3\u03bd\u03c9\u03c3\u03b9\u03c2<\/a>) of sin<\/em>.4<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Only with God\u2019s righteousness, the love that fulfills the law by the fruit of His Spirit, is it possible for me to say with Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, \u201cWe have met the enemy and they are ours.\u201d5<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 For there is no distinction<\/em> [Table<\/a>], Paul continued, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. \u00a0But they are justified <\/em>(\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u1f7b\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9<\/a>, another form of \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03cc\u03c9) freely<\/em> (\u03b4\u03c9\u03c1\u03b5\u03ac\u03bd<\/a>) by his grace<\/em> (\u03c7\u1f71\u03c1\u03b9\u03c4\u03b9<\/a>, a form of \u03c7\u03ac\u03c1\u03b9\u03c2<\/a>) through the redemption<\/em> (\u1f00\u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03c5\u03c4\u03c1\u1f7d\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2<\/a>, a form of \u1f00\u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03cd\u03c4\u03c1\u03c9\u03c3\u03b9\u03c2<\/a>) that is in Christ Jesus<\/em>.6<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t see that at first because I had separated Christ\u2019s redemption or justification, spending eternity in heaven as opposed to the lake of fire, from righteousness.\u00a0 Redemption or justification was God\u2019s doing, the \u201cfinished work of Christ.\u201d\u00a0 Righteousness was my obedience to Christ and the law.<\/p>\n
Paul continued, God publicly displayed<\/em> [Christ Jesus] at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith<\/em> (\u03c0\u1f77\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2, a form of \u03c0\u03af\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03c2).\u00a0 This was to demonstrate his righteousness<\/em> (\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u1f7b\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2<\/a>, a form of \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u03cd\u03bd\u03b7<\/a>), because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed. \u00a0This was also to demonstrate<\/a> his righteousness<\/em> (\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u1f7b\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2, a form of \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u03cd\u03bd\u03b7) in the present time, so that he would be just<\/em> (\u03b4\u1f77\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd<\/a>, a form of \u03b4\u03af\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>) and the justifier<\/em> (\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u1fe6\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1<\/a>, another form of \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03cc\u03c9<\/a>) of the one who lives because of Jesus\u2019 faithfulness<\/em> (\u03c0\u1f77\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2, a form of \u03c0\u03af\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03c2) [Table<\/a>].7<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n
I was all for God\u2019s vindication.\u00a0 He had put up with more than enough from me.\u00a0 If Jesus\u2019 death demonstrated his righteousness and made it so he would be just (or, righteous<\/em>) and the justifier, that was a good thing.\u00a0 And these verses do stand as a pithy declaration of the \u201cfinished work of Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n
The mercy seat<\/em> was discussed more in the letter to the Hebrews.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know who wrote it.\u00a0 I thought it was Paul, at first.\u00a0 The more I read Paul\u2019s other letters it seemed it was someone else<\/a>, someone who knew Paul and his teaching but lacked his style.\u00a0 The writer of Hebrews\u2019 amplification on what it meant to be publicly displayed<\/em>\u2026at his death as the mercy seat<\/em> follows (Hebrews 9:2-5a, 6-8, 11, 12, 15 NET):<\/p>\n
For a tent was prepared, the outer one, which contained the lampstand, the table, and the presentation of the loaves; this is called the holy place. \u00a0And after the second curtain there was a tent called the holy of holies. \u00a0It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold.\u00a0 In this ark were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron\u2019s rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. \u00a0And above the ark were the cherubim8<\/sup><\/a> <\/em>of glory overshadowing the mercy seat\u2026. So with these things prepared like this, the priests enter continually9<\/sup><\/a> <\/em>into the outer tent as they perform their duties. \u00a0But only the high priest enters once a year into the inner tent, and not without blood that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. \u00a0The Holy Spirit is making clear that the way into the holy place had not yet appeared as long as the old tabernacle was standing.<\/p>\n
But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to come<\/a>.\u00a0 He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation [Table<\/a>]<\/em>, and he entered once for all into the most holy place not by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, and so he himself secured eternal redemption\u2026.And so he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised, since he died to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
<\/a>So I thought my life consisted of bringing my sacrifice, my faith, to church every Sunday, confessing my sins for the week and going home and trying to do better next week.\u00a0 [T]he person who fears<\/em> (\u03c6\u03bf\u03b2\u03bf\u1f7b\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>, a form of \u03c6\u03bf\u03b2\u03ad\u03c9<\/a>) [God] and does<\/em> (\u1f10\u03c1\u03b3\u03b1\u03b6\u1f79\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>, a form of \u1f10\u03c1\u03b3\u03ac\u03b6\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9<\/a>) what is right<\/em> (\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u1f7b\u03bd\u03b7\u03bd<\/a>, a form of \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u03cd\u03bd\u03b7<\/a>) is welcomed<\/em> (\u03b4\u03b5\u03ba\u03c4\u03cc\u03c2<\/a>) before him<\/em>.10<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 And this is the time in my life<\/a> when I could only distinguish myself from a Pharisee by the fact that I went to church on Sunday instead of synagogue on Saturday, ate ham for Easter rather than lamb for Passover, and by and large the Pharisee was much better at it than I was.\u00a0 It was a hard truth to recognize and accept.\u00a0 For I tell you<\/em>, Jesus said, unless your righteousness (\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u03cd\u03bd\u03b7) goes<\/em> (\u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c3\u03b5\u1f7b\u03c3\u1fc3<\/a>, a form of \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c3\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9<\/a>) beyond<\/em> (\u03c0\u03bb\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bf\u03bd<\/a>, a form of \u03c0\u03bb\u03b5\u03af\u03c9\u03bd<\/a>) that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven<\/em>.11<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n
Still, I don\u2019t think I could have skipped this step.\u00a0 This was where I learned that I will never justify myself or be declared righteous before God by my efforts to keep his law.\u00a0 It was during this time, years too embarrassing to number, that my own experience confirmed that as I attempted to keep God\u2019s law by my own efforts I only got better acquainted with my sin.\u00a0 If someone reads this who is there now, and needs to be there, he needs to hate me, ignore what I\u2019ve written and continue serving God.\u00a0 But if someone is ready to move on, well, I\u2019m not necessary, but I would like to help if I can.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Addendum:<\/strong> May 3, 2021
\nTables comparing Psalm 143:8<\/a>; 143:9<\/a>; 143:10<\/a>; 143:11<\/a> and 143:12<\/a> in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing Psalm 143:8 (142:8)<\/a>; 143:9 (142:9)<\/a>; 143:10 (142:10)<\/a>; 143:11 (142:11)<\/a> and 143:12 (142:12)<\/a> in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and a table comparing Hebrews 9:5, 6<\/a> in the NET and KJV follow.<\/p>\n