Think on Things that are Just or Righteous

1. Read: Philippians 4:8

2. About the Text:

1) Who controls what you think?

2) There are many and strong influences on what we think.

3) The Bible teaches that we (individuals) control what we think.

4) We can direct our thoughts to specific notions/ideas.

5) “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

3. How we think affects our attitudes, decisions, and actions.

1) We want to have good thoughts so that our lives will be good lives.

2) We do not have to dwell on bad thoughts.

3) We can redirect our thoughts to good things.

4) This will bring joy to our lives.

4. The Greek word translated “just” here is the word dikaios.

1) The Hebrew equivalent is tsaddiyq.

2) It has a variety of meanings depending on the context.

3) It is translated in the KJV “righteous” 41 times, “just” 33 times, “right” 5 times, and “meet” 2 times..

4) The word “righteous” at its foundation means to be correct.

5) The word “righteousness” is the state of having been found correct.

6) We don’t use the word in common speech except to impugn someone of arrogance by calling them “self-righteousness.”

7) We use the word almost exclusively in the context of religion.

8) Originally, however, it was used simply to describe one’s correctness in relationship to another.

9) This is the notion of doing something that is just.

10) We use the words “just” and “justice” in common speech regularly.

11) A just person is someone who acts equitably toward another.

5. How can we think on things that are just or righteous?

6. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Consider Deuteronomy 6:25: “Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the LORD our God, as He has commanded us.”

1) God wants us to focus on our behavior.

2) That behavior must come from God’s standard of right and wrong – His commands.

3) “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

2. We must think about God’s word to think about righteous and just things.

1) “My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness” (Psalm 119:172).

2) “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, ??And in His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2).

3) “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11).

3. To think about what is just and righteous, we must think about the gospel.

1) “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:16-17).

2) “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all[ who believe. For there is no difference” (Romans 3:21-22).

4. Being just and righteous is something worth thinking about and doing.

1. Christians no longer behave according to the world’s standards.

1) “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

2) “But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 2:20-23).

2. We act toward other people according to the standard of Christ’s righteousness.

1) “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion” (Romans 12:9-16).

2) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another” (Galatians 5:22-25).

1. In our relationship with God, righteousness only comes through Jesus Christ.

1) Sin affects our behavior in relationship to righteousness.

2) Romans 3:10 “There is none that is righteous; no not one.”

3) “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19).

4) “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor.5:21).

2. Today when we submit to the will of God through Christ, we can be counted as righteous by virtue of Christ’s righteousness (Romans 4:6).

1) “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:16-18).

3. God wants us to behave righteously!

1) “If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him” (1 John 2:29).

2) 1 John 3:7 “My little children, let no man lead you astray: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous:”

3) “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10).

4. How does one become righteous before God through Jesus Christ?

1) We must hear the word (Romans 10:17).

2) We must believe in the gospel (Mark 1:15).

3) We must repent of our sins (Acts 17:30).

4) We must confess Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:10).

5) We must identify with Him in baptism! (Galatians 3:27).

5. What does righteous behavior look like in relationship to God?

1) We will study God’s word (Acts 17:11).

2) We will have an active prayer life (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

3) We will worship with the church (Hebrews 10:25).

4) We will take the gospel to others (Matthew 28:18-20).

5) We will be a good example to those around us in the world (Matthew 5:13-16).

6) We will rear our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).

1. How do we think on things that are just or righteous? We must think carefully about…

1) Our Own Behavior

2) Our Behavior in Relationship to Others

3) Our Behavior in Relationship to God

2. Invitation