For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.
Romans 3:28
Dear members and friends,
What is inevitable in human history has been that each generation–or people in different parts of the world—tends to define core values of what it means to be human differently based on the unique settings in which they are placed. This has been evidently true to the Christian movement, especially in defining what it means to be a valuable human being before God. Both the Old and New Testament describe this valuable human before God as a righteous person. Thus, righteousness is a central characteristic in describing the nature of God the Creator, and quality of humans who were created by the Creator. One of the most heated Christian arguments has been around how to obtain righteousness and its relationship with either faith or works or both. From Paul, to Augustine, to Aquinas, to Martin Luther, to Swedenborg, the issue of how to become righteous before God is essential in their theological framework.
The importance of righteousness in both the Old and New Testament arises from the truth that righteousness is the essential characteristics attributed to God in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament. Consequently, obtaining righteousness is emphasized as the existential purpose of humans whose life has true meaning only through a life related, connected, and united with their Creator through righteousness. Thus, righteousness has become the existential purpose of humans. Yet, Christians have debated what it means to be a righteous person before God, despite the truth that God in the Old Testament emphasized living harmoniously with each other and Jesus in Gospels emphasized living a life of charity.
My brothers and sisters in God, let us take a moment of time this week and contemplate on what we mean by being faithful and thus being righteous before God. May your finding lead and connect you to the ever-lasting presence of eternal love within and around you.
Blessings,
Rev. Junchol Lee