Yahweh Tsidkenu, Jesus, And God’s People

As I write this post, the government is still on the verge of a shutdown. Not because of the liberal left, but because of the power-hungry right (conservatives). The divided party still cannot get their act together.

The main sticking point is the so-called. “border Crisis” propagated by a few extreme rightists—individuals who are only concerned about their desires. While I understand the need to be fiscally responsible as a nation, as a child of God I must live by my Christian beliefs. These are Christian fundamentals.

Loving thy neighbor
Welcoming foreigners
Caring for the needy

These acts aren’t optional for the people of God, they are commands given by God Himself. They should be second nature to anyone who claims to be a conservative.

The Judeo-Christian faith teaches we are made in the image of God and called to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). Unlike our Jewish stepfathers we don’t do works to be accepted by God, we do them because we are right with God and have obtained the righteousness of God!

The Righteousness of God

The attributes of God’s righteousness are morality, compassion, mercy, and justice. Christianity places a high esteem on the righteousness of God. As God’s people, we are God’s representatives on earth. We don’t get to live and do whatever we selfishly want.

That was the attitude of the self-righteous Pharisees, Jesus commanded us to do better than them (Matthew: 20). The Apostle Paul makes it clear that if we are in Jesus, our righteousness does not come from the law (Philippians 3:9).

The Apostle John tells us that whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as God is righteous (1 John 3:7). Through Jesus we are made right with God. Jesus continued, we are to seek the kingdom and the righteousness of God (Matthew 6:33).

Without Jesus, the Apostle Paul says we all fall short of the righteousness of God (Romans 3:23). Only God is our righteous Savior, not a man or a party (Jeremiah 33:14-18).

Yahweh Tsidkenu

Judaism calls God’s righteousness, Yahweh Tsidkenu and it means the Lord is our righteousness. Judaism calls God’s righteousness tsedeq (Psalm 89:14-15). God’s people are to seek His ways to be righteous.

Orthodox Judaism teaches the way to righteousness through works and sacrifices. Jewish Korbanots are sacrifices offered to make one right with God. The essence of Korbanot is to “draw near” to God just like Able and Abraham, their sacrifices humbled them. Below are a few requirements Jewish sacrifices must meet.

They must cost the giver dearly.
They are a substitute offering for the giver.
Cruelty to the animal was forbidden.
Only incense is to be offered on the golden altar.
Not to sprinkle its blood.
Not to dedicate a blemished animal for the altar.
To offer only unblemished animals.

This is why the New Testament often refers to Jesus as the perfect lamb sacrificed for us (John 1:29, 1 Corinthians 5:7, 1 Peter 1:19). Jesus is the final sacrifice to make us right with God. But He isn’t the final sacrifice for those who belong to Him.

Jesus said unless we deny ourselves daily we cannot be His followers (Matthew 16:24). We are to Jesus’ example. We don’t sacrifice to be saved; we sacrifice because we are saved.

Just Do It

The righteousness of God should motivate us to live like Him. When we stop living for ourselves, we will put others first. We will be compassionate, show mercy, and fight for justice.