Righteousness Through Christ

Three times Job's friends had spoken against him, accusing him of sin. Job now points out to them that there are some things that he does not understand. For example, he tells them that he does not understand the way of God in nature, but since he can see the results of God's way in nature, he believes nature will take its course. He concludes therefore that although he does not understand why God permitted the great problems in his life, he realizes that God was behind all that had happened to him and therefore he trusted God and believed that He would work out everything to his good. Job actually touched the heart of his problem the moment he realized that all that had come to him was in the permissive will of God.

Open your Bibles to Job, chapter 27, and notice verses 1-3:

In other words, Job is saying, ``God gave me my life, and for it, He is responsible. My trials and sufferings are through Him. He is working in my life for a purpose, so I trust Him."

Job made a wise decision when he said he would not speak wickedly or deceitfully. His friends had accused him of being wicked, of robbing widows, of storing up money from greed, and of many other things. Job said that he would not admit to these accusations as he was innocent of them. He said that if he admitted to them, he would be a hypocrite and they had already said that hypocrites had no claim with God. So he steadfastly refused to admit to the accusations.

There is an indication of Job's realization of the problem here, but he still did not understand. However, this understanding is awakened soon. His error was that he said, ``my righteousness, and I, and my heart shall not reproach me as long as I live." He had the common I trouble that plagues many even today. That same I trouble had caused Satan to rebel against God.

Paul had gone about trying to establish his own righteousness, but he learned that was not God's way. Therefore, when writing to the Philippians who were believers, he said in Philippians, chapter 3, verse 9:

When Paul met the Lord Jesus Christ on the Damascus road and he was planning to persecute the Christians, his entire life plans were changed. Note what he told others in verses 4-8:

After this admission, Paul concluded that he had gone about trying to establish his own righteousness in the wrong way. He says further in verses 7-9:

Paul had gone about trying to establish his own righteousness, and this he could not do. So he concludes, paraphrasing verse 9: ``I want to be found in Christ because my own righteousness doesn't count. I must have the righteousness of Christ."

We are given the story of the prayers of the Pharisee and the Publican in the Gospel according to Luke, chapter 18, verses 9-14:

Notice, Paul, Job, and the Pharisee all tried to depend upon their own righteousness, tried to establish their own righteousness. But they missed the mark! You, too, will miss the mark if you base your salvation on anything that you have done.

There is only one way that we can receive a righteousness that is acceptable to God. We must take our place there at the foot of the Cross and claim the finished work of Christ. The only righteousness that God respects is the righteousness received through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Job's three friends had each spoken three times accusing him of sin. He had already emphasized that regardless of what his friends said, he had retained his righteousness, and he knew this to be true. Job is now in touch with his problem.

Job, chapter 28, could be lifted out of the book of Job as it is an entire unit in itself. It is a hymn of wisdom. It is a story of mining for precious metals and gems. I am always amazed as I read God's Word and realize that the people in those times knew things that we are just now discovering and yet we think that we know so much. They even knew in Job's day as much about the art of mining as we do. They knew about getting gems from the sea, and we are just beginning to know and understand this and to discover the best ways to obtain these precious stones.

However, although they knew how to find precious things through mining, they did not know how to find wisdom. We want to emphasize this. Turn to Job, chapter 28, verse 12:

With all his accomplishments, man has failed in the greatest accomplishment of all. He has found gold, silver, gems---very precious things, but he has not found wisdom nor discovered the place where he can get wisdom. Look at verses 14-18:

We have read about the mining abilities of that day, but man was not able to find wisdom. They discovered many, many precious items, but they did not bring wisdom to those who found them.

Notice verses 20-21:

In these verses, the Spirit of God says that we must realize that wisdom has been withheld from all. We have only heard a report of it. None have possessed it, but the Spirit does not leave us anxious and dissatisfied:

Man does not have wisdom. God established wisdom, and He alone possesses it. But way back in the beginning, God set in order the operation of all things.

Notice particularly verse 26: ``When he made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning..." Decree here means ``an appointment or an enactment." Remember, God set all creation in order at the beginning, and it is still in His hands. Turn to Proverbs, chapter 8, verses 11-14:

Go back to Job, chapter 28, and notice verse 28:

Let us look at some things that the New Testament reveals to us concerning this much coveted possession---wisdom. Turn to I Corinthians, chapter 1, verse 30:

It is in Christ that we find wisdom, not in other things and not in the world. Turn to Christ. Receive Him as your personal Savior. That is wisdom because He is ``made wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."

Chapter 29 is a testimony or review of Job's life before the tragedy and testing came to him. He was a very important man and his word carried weight among the people. Let us look at the spiritual life of Job, as we have already learned of his material possession. Notice Job, chapter 29, verses 2-3:

Job is reminiscing. Past events and experiences are coming to his mind and he longs for the days of his life when God blessed and preserved him. Note, ``...when, by his light I walked through darkness." As believers, we are strangers in this world. Therefore, as strangers, we, too, walk through darkness, but we do not walk in darkness.

Turn to I John, chapter 1, verses 6-7:

The darkness of the believer is dispelled by the Light (Jesus Christ) and we can ``walk in the light" with Him. If you are a believer who is walking in darkness, you are out of fellowship with the Lord. But if you walk through the darkness, you can walk through in fellowship with God.

Possibly, you have walked in darkness carrying a flashlight to see your way. You could walk carefully and without harm because of the circle of light that was made by the light that you carried. But outside of that circle of light, there was darkness. So God says that it is possible for you to have light. Turn to Psalm 119, verse 105:

Notice, it is the Word of God that is the lamp and the light. ``A lamp unto my feet" means that the light provides light that dispels the darkness that is immediately around your feet so that you can see the next step ahead, but not far ahead. ``A light unto my path" tells us that the Word of God not only provides light for the next step but also lights up the path ahead. God's Word is truly a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Let's use it!

Go back to Job, chapter 29, and notice verse 4:

The word tabernacle here refers to Job's body. What does ``the secret of God" mean? It means simply that Job was in very close fellowship with God, even as Abraham also lived in very close fellowship with God. Turn to James chapter 2, verse 23:

Because Abraham was the ``Friend of God" and because he walked in close fellowship with God, God saw to it that he was warned when Lot was captured. Abraham wasted no time, but armed his household---three hundred and eighteen people. They pursued the enemy, won the battle, and restored Lot. Look at Psalm 25, verse 14:

Job had experienced close fellowship with God. He walked and talked with Him. This kind of fellowship is not limited to those of Old Testament days. Turn to John, chapter 15, verses 14-15:

``Ye are my friends, if..." We, too, are friends of God if we do what He commands. If we ``walk in the light as He is in the light" then we have fellowship with Him. If we walk in the light, we are not His servants, but His friends. His secrets are made known to us. We are not disappointed for He makes known to us His will. We may walk through darkness at times, but we will not walk in darkness.

I believe that a godly father and mother, walking in the light, will have access to what may happen to their children and therefore can pray for their protection and God's guidance of them. Visionary? No, God just keeps us informed when we are close to Him.

Walk close to God. There is no place comparable to a close fellowship with Him. Be a friend of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, you cannot be His friend unless you meet His requirement. Notice again: ``Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you."

In the previous chapter, Job told how he had the respect of the whole community and how men had looked up to him and had high regard for him. They had valued his opinion. Notice the circumstances at this time in Job, chapter 30:

Times had changed. Now he is not respected. Men laugh at him and pay no attention to him. Even the young, whose fathers Job had considered beneath his dignity, now ridicule him. Look at verse 19:

Notice that Job now recognizes that which has come to him has come in the providence of God. It was not that God deliberately wanted to make him suffer, but God did permit this suffering to come to him. This was the conclusion of Job at this point. He was right. We read in the very beginning of the book of Job that God had turned him over to Satan for testing.

When Job's friends accused him of sinning, he said, ``No, I have not sinned against God." As Job tried to convince his friends that he had not sinned, he came to the conclusion that this suffering had come to him with God's permission. Today, there is so much teaching on the love of God as a Father who pampers and pets, but God's Word teaches otherwise.

Turn to Romans, chapter 8, and notice verse 28:

Notice, it says ``all things"---not just the good things that please us, but all things. If we learn to look at the things that come to us with the mind of God, we will understand life more clearly.

The Bible tells us in Hebrews, chapter 12, verse 6:

God is truly a loving Father and He knows what we need to make us profitable children of God. When Job realized this, he came close to the truth. But he had not yet arrived at the real lesson that God wanted him to learn. However, he was well on the way. Notice what Job said in verse 19 again:

Job needs to realize that all his problems and suffering have come to him with God's permission. Look at verse 20:

``I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me." Does this strike a familiar note with you? Perhaps you have gone through or are now going through a similar experience. Have you ever cried unto the Lord, and He didn't seem to hear? God does hear, but the answer is delayed for a purpose. We may think He doesn't hear, but He does. Turn to Psalm 66, and notice verse 18:

God does not answer prayer if there is sin in the life. David knew this. Job also realized this. The New Testament teaches us the same truth. Therefore, if God does not answer our prayers, we should examine our lives very carefully and see if there is any sin in our lives that we should make right. Then, and then only, will God answer prayer.

``I stand up, and thou regardest me not." Have you ever been in a meeting where you had something to say and you stood up and the chairman did not recognize you? You feel sure that he has seen you, but he acts oblivious to your presence, even though you wave your hand. Anyone who has attended many meetings has had or seen this happen. Job felt like that. He prayed, but it was as if God did not hear him. He even stood up and yet it seemed that God did not take notice.

Notice now, bitterness comes to the surface. This is good. Let us not go around with a smile if we do not mean it. In verse 21 of Job, chapter 30:

Are you saying to Job, ``Don't talk that way to God!"? You had better talk that way to Him if you have that bitterness in your heart, for God sees all that is in your heart.

Haven't we, at times, thought that we were suffering needlessly, even that we might be forsaken of God? Not so. God never forsakes His own; nor does He permit suffering to come if it is not necessary to bring us to a place of spiritual victory. God is right there, permitting every trial and every test.

When we realize that whatever testing has come to us, it has come in the permissive will of God, then God can work in our lives. When we have been brought to this point, the point where we need to be where God can have His way with us, then victory will come. Verse 23:

Job realized that all his suffering was God's permissive will for him. Now he concludes that he will be brought to death. He had gone through so very much that perhaps this thought was comforting.

Look at chapter 31:

Note that the first thing that Job examined was purity of thought. His friends had accused him of many sins, and he had denied their accusations. Now, as he thinks about his thought life, he says, ``I have made a covenant with my eyes."

Notice the depths of this statement. Job had covenanted with his eyes not to look upon sin that he might not lust. He kept pure by not even looking upon sin. Perhaps we all should carefully examine our eyes and consider what we are looking upon---especially when it comes to television and movies. Do we watch programs that are filled with sin of many kinds and especially programs that promote and glorify adultery?

This is the first sin that Job tested in his life. He says that he made a covenant with his eyes that he would not look upon a maid to lust because looking leads to actual sin. God has given the desire to mankind to be used according to His purpose---not for adultery or fornication.

Have you made such a covenant with your eyes? Job said, ``I don't permit my eyes to look so I will not be tempted." He was determined to live for God.

Have you determined in your heart to live for God? Even if you have failed to keep such a covenant, you can go to God for forgiveness, and He will cleanse and restore your purity.

Job was tested in so many ways. The testing wore down hard on his physical life and on his emotional life and no doubt, upon his spiritual life. One of the greatest tests that Job had to endure was the criticism of his friends. Is that not true with us also? They assumed that all that happened to others in trial and difficulties was because of the judgment of God. This practice did not die with Job's friends. Today, it is still prevalent.

We must not lapse into the error of Eliphaz and his friends. We must not assume that someone is not following the Lord just because he is being tested. Why do we do this? We probably do this because we know that if we were to receive our just deserts, judgment would rest upon us.

In this chapter, we are studying the last words of Job before God took over his life once again. He had discovered that when he prayed, it seemed as if God did not answer. It seemed as though God was not working in his life. So he searched his life, and he found no reason God should not answer his prayers. He was not bragging when he said that he had made a covenant with his eyes. His three friends had continued to accuse him of sinning. He said, ``I have carefully searched my heart and my life, and I have not sinned to bring God's judgment upon me like this." In the presence of God, he declared himself not guilty.

Look at verses 4-6:

Do you realize the tremendous thrust of this saying? God sees all our ways. God sees all that we do. God counts all our steps. In other words, God observes all that we do and not only knows where we go, but counts our steps. We cannot hide anything from Him. Children raised in a Christian home may step out of the way of Christ. They may say or think, ``Dad and Mother will not know anything about this." That may be true, but God knows, and He knows even when one walks in the wrong path or in deceit.

Notice particularly, Job's words: ``Let me be weighed in an even balance." Maybe we don't lie, but we have spoken and not been entirely honest in our statements. An even balance would easily show this deficiency. But Job was willing to be weighed thus and let God make the decision. He was so sure that he had not sinned in this fashion.

Could we say this? I feel like I must say, ``Put me on one side of the balance and mercy on the other side." Thank God that I am not dependent upon my righteousness. The Lord Jesus Christ has been made righteousness for me. Turn to I Corinthians, chapter 1, verse 30:

If you have received Christ as your personal Savior, you have been redeemed by Christ also. You can rejoice in His mercy and His love and come to Him for forgiveness of sin. He will forgive and not send judgment, but you must confess to Him. Look at I John, chapter 1, verses 9-10:

Job, after considering carefully his life, said: ``Let me be weighed in an even balance." Go back to Job, chapter 31, and notice verses 5-13:

In these verses Job says, ``If I have done so and so." Remember that we are studying the life of Job in the light of the New Testament to make the application for us. In the light of the Old Testament, the matter would be otherwise. Look at verse 14:

Remember, the Old Testament puts the emphasis on a righteous life while the New Testament puts the emphasis on a living faith. Stop and think. God is a living God and God is a real God. One day He will rise up before us and will visit us. What answer will you give Him then?

True, many of you have been faithful and nothing is done in His name that will be forgotten---not even a cup of cold water given in His name. Turn to Matthew, chapter 10, and notice verse 42:

However, what about the things that we should have done and neglected to do even though we knew they should be done? And what about the things that we have done even when we knew they should not be done? God won't say, ``Did you do this?" He will state exactly what we have done. What will we answer? Will we plead guilty? Praise God, we will never have to plead guilty. We will not have to answer if we have accepted Christ as our personal Savior for He became sin for us. We will be forgiven because He paid the penalty for our sin. Look at II Corinthians, chapter 5, verse 21:

Faith in Christ as our Savior saves us from judgment. Our sins and our shortcomings are forgiven through the shed blood of Christ. So I have placed my faith in Christ as my Savior. Have you? The Word of God states in John, chapter 1, verse 12:

Go back to Job, chapter 31, and notice verse 33:

Job uttered these words because he declared to his friends that he had not sinned; therefore, he did not need to try to hide his sin like Adam did. Adam and Eve had sinned. Eve had been tempted by the serpent and had first eaten of the forbidden fruit. Then she gave the fruit to Adam, and he ate also. Notice in Genesis, chapter 3, verses 7-8:

Adam and Eve tried to cover their sin by making aprons of fig leaves. They tried to hide from God among the trees, but God is omniscient. Therefore, He knew all about what they had done, and they could not cover their sin from Him, nor could they hide from Him. Look at Psalm 139, verses 4 and 7-10:

In a sense, it gives us a feeling of comfort to know that God is always there, but also a sense of fear to know that we cannot escape God.

What about Adam? True, he could not hide or cover his sin. Only when he acknowledged his sin was God able to forgive him. We, too, must confess our sin to Him. Turn to Psalm 51, verses 1-2:

David prayed this prayer, and God forgave him. Only after David confessed his sin did peace come to his heart. Now notice Psalm 32, verse 1:

David tells in the Psalms how miserable he was when he tried to hide his sin. Then he tells how wonderful it was when he confessed his sin and was forgiven by God.

Let's go back to our verse in Job: ``...by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom" (Job 31:33). How many today are hiding sin? Many break laws and disappoint those who trust in them. When we try to hide our sin, it saps our life. Only when we confess our sin are we free again. Many are ill and some mentally ill and confused because they try to hide their sin. Not all who are ill or who have mental problems are victims of trying to hide sin, though. When we sin, we must confess our sin to God and obtain His forgiveness if we desire peace of mind and heart. Turn to I John again, and notice chapter 1, verse 9:

Notice it says to confess our sins and He will forgive. We do not need to beg forgiveness. It is given freely. It does not even say that we must ask forgiveness. God is ready and willing to forgive us when we confess our sin.

The record of Job's answer to all the accusations made against him is given in verses 29-31 of chapter 31 in the book of Job.

Look at verse 35:

Job was making his defense, and he was so bent on declaring his innocence that I think he got carried away. To be frank, this almost causes cold chills up my back. What Job is actually saying here is, ``Oh, that I might have a chance to talk to God and to know that He heard me." A wall had come between Job and God, so that it seemed that God did not hear him. Once before, out of the longing of his heart, he spoke of his desire to talk to God. Job had been humble when he longed to speak frankly to God and to show Him how he desired fellowship with Him again. But now, his spirit is bold. There is no humility. Verse 36:

Notice, Job continues, ``I wish all those accusations made against me would be put in a book. Do you know what I would do? I'd take the book upon my shoulder and bind it as a crown on me." Remember, books then were in the form of scrolls, so it would be easy to bind it about the head as a crown.

In the mind of Job, God was considered royalty. Therefore, he says that he would go to God as a prince. He is putting himself on equality with God. This is a terrible thought---the very idea of approaching God as an equal. It is a terrible thing for Job to challenge God to an equal approach and to challenge God to listen to his plea.

``As a prince would I go near unto him," he said. How very bold! Job was certainly carried away. He boasted that he would approach God and cause Him to listen to what he had to say.

God had seen the need in Job to be chastened or He would not have permitted Satan to test him with such severe trials. These final words of Job, discussed here, prove that Job was not perfect. Job was in need of chastening.