Gal. 5:5-6; 1 John 3:1-3, The Hope of Righteousness

We have taken time to consider the results of trying to live the Christian life by law-keeping.  These are serious matters and must be considered thoughtfully.  But now from the same passage (Gal. 5:1-11) let us consider two magnificent positives that result from holding fast the freedom we have in Christ and living the Christian life by grace and the Holy Spirit.  (In advance I will acknowledge the wonderful help I received from W. E. Vine’s Expository Commentary on Galatians.)

1.    5:5: We eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.  “Righteousness” refers, of course, to that which is right and just.  It is used of good works in general, of all that God requires of man, of religious duties, and with other nuances in Scripture. 

a.     In our “justification” we have been declared righteous by God, in response to faith.  What happened with Abraham is true of us: Abraham believed God and it was accounted/reckoned as righteousness (Gen. 15:6).  The believer has nothing to qualify himself for this in his past.  At the same time, in his future he has no ability within himself to become righteous.  But by the work of Christ, in whom he has put his faith, two things can be said: 1) no one can condemn him for his past because Christ has died for his sins; and 2) he has the assurance of being conformed into the image of Christ because Christ is risen from the dead.  In other words, he has the hope of righteousness and he eagerly waits for the fulfillment of this hope.

b.    This is why the Scripture tells us:

… being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6).

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.  And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure (1 John 3:2-3).

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren (Ro. 8:29).

c.     This is momentous in the dispute between Paul and the Judaizers.  Paul’s accusers said his approach was, in effect, licentiousness.  They accused him of promoting sin rather than righteousness.  But now we see that believers have within them the Holy Spirit, who quickens us daily with the hope of righteousness.  It is not the failed “yoke of bondage” we left behind and must leave behind now.  It is the prime motivation of the believer as he longs for and eagerly awaits the return of Christ.  This is the hope that purifies!