Righteousness is Sonship
You have been seeing this phrase throughout our website. Now I wish to explain where this idea came from.
There are many definitions of righteousness. And the most basic is that “righteousness is to do what is right.” Others have said that righteousness is to be in right relationship, to be in right standing.
As I’m finishing up this book, Damon Thompson, a man I hold in high regard, has started to speak extensively on the topics that I have been writing about. For this I will be forever grateful as he has provided much confirmation, as I’m hearing from his lips everything that God has been saying to me secretly. It is good for any author to know that the revelations that God has given them, that they are not alone in them.
In recent messages Damon Thompson has been releasing the definition of righteousness that he has found. He says that righteousness is “one is as he ought to be.”
Seven years ago I came to a different definition as I began doing a Google search for the Hebrews understanding of righteousness. Unfortunately I have not been able to find again my source for which I can sight the definition I have come to love. That definition is that “righteousness is a man who keeps covenant.”
I will cite a different source that I recently found which says a similar thing.
“RIGHTEOUSNESS, the fulfillment of all legal and moral obligations. Righteousness is not an abstract notion but rather consists in doing what is just and right in all relationships; “…keep justice and do righteousness at all times” (Ps. 106:3; cf. Isa. 64:4; Jer. 22:3; Ezek. 18:19–27; Ps. 15:2). Righteous action results in social stability and ultimately in peace: And the work of righteousness shall be peace (Isa. 32:17; cf. Hos. 10:12; Avot 2:7).
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/righteousness
In the Bible righteousness bears a distinctly legal character; the righteous man is the innocent party, while the wicked man is the guilty one: “And the judges judge them by justifying the righteous and condemning the wicked” (Deut. 25:1; cf. Ex. 23:7; II Sam. 15:4; Isa. 5:23). Righteousness requires not merely abstention from evil, but a constant pursuit of justice and the performance of positive deeds (Deut. 16:20; Jer. 22:3; cf. Prov. 16:17; Gen. R. 30:9; Jub. 7:20; Tob. 3:2; Kid. 40a). “
The phrase “Righteousness means Sonship“ is a phrase that I have been hearing in my quiet times and my prophetic Bible studies. This phrase will come at me, seemingly out of the blue. I had to ask God for clarification. I did not understand why He was saying this.
The concept that righteousness is one who keeps covenant, became very powerful as I began to study the covenants that we have lived under.
The old covenant required obedience and in that covenant righteousness meant to keep the law. The judge would use the covenant to determine if a man had followed the law. We are under a new covenant in Christ Jesus. In Galatians 4, Paul says the two covenants are represented by the mothers of Abraham’s two children, Sarah and Hagar. Paul tells us that Hagar represents Mount Sinai and the covenant born of flesh. Paul then tells us that Sarah represents the new covenant, Mount Zion, and the covenant born of the Spirit. Paul then tells us that we are to cast out the old covenant with her son, the harassing condemnation, the identity of failure.
Galatians 4:29-30 NASB
[29] But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. [30] But what does the Scripture say? “Cast OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, FOR the SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN.”
Galatians 4:31 TPT
[31] It’s now so obvious! We’re not the children of the slave woman; we’re the supernatural sons of the freewoman-sons of grace!
In second Corinthians three Paul tells us that we are not to keep the covenant written on stones, that we are not to follow the letter, but rather the spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:6 NASB
[6] who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Back to Galatians four. Here Paul tells us that the spirit is releasing into us adoption of Sonship. Paul informs us that the spirit is crying out within us daddy God. The spirit of our covenant is in fact releasing Sonship to us.
Galatians 4:5-7 NASB
[5] so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. [6] Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” [7] Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
Paul tells us that the righteous will live by faith. He also tells us that we get the righteousness of Christ as a free gift. He tells us that in our righteousness there’s nothing for us to do but live in it.
As I studied the new covenant, and found that God would cause us to follow his ways (Ezekiel 36:26), which is another way of saying that He put His nature inside of us, it became evident that in this new covenant, God has taken up all of the responsibilities for us manifesting His character. In my study, I asked Papa what are we responsible for. His response is that “we are responsible to be loved on.” When I hear Him talk like this, I am hearing a Father say to His son, “you’re not responsible for controlling behavior, just let Me love on you.” This is a deeper meaning that follows His words.
I hope in all of this you can see the aspect of Sonship. My responsibility in this covenant is that I let my Father love me. His response is that He gives me image of Christ. This is my activity of faith. Sonship is the free gift given to me by Jesus. I can’t walk away from it. I can’t earn it. And if I lean into it, I’ll become just like Jesus, the most righteous man who ever walk the earth.
Being a son is a responsibility that God doesn’t hold over my head. But if I’m honest, it is really what I’m responsible to myself for. Because, if I desire to be everything He has put inside of me, then yielding to His fathering is the only path forward. The responsibility is to myself. God has placed no expectation upon us. Sonship provides the pathway to holiness (otherness, being just like my Father). Sonship as what Holy Spirit is speaking. And Holy Spirit is the arbitrator and governor of this new covenant.
Holding on to the concepts that righteousness means obedience, means that we are trying to keep two covenants alive at the same time. And Paul has said explicitly in Galatians 4 that we are to cast out the bondwoman and her harassing son. What does her son say, “you’ll never be good enough“.
Let us instead run into the embrace of our loving Father and experience all the acceptance that He has to offer, and His love will reshape our very nature until it is a perfect reflection of His Son’s life. Then we will take on the nature of love.
Righteousness is a free gift. It is an open embrace. It is a welcome home. It is the gift of Sonship. It is the prodigal son being restored back fully into his rightful position by a Father Who can only see how important His son is to Him. Because, God doesn’t only declare that we are now right in His eyes, as if He were only a judge. God also declares that we belong to Him and we are His children – that we are His sons, in the image of Jesus.
Romans 4:5-8 TPT
[5] But no one earns God’s righteousness. It can only be transferred when we no longer rely on our own works, but believe in the one who powerfully declares the ungodly to be righteous in his eyes. It is faith that transfers God’s righteousness into your account! [6] Even King David himself speaks to us regarding the complete wholeness that comes inside a person when God’s powerful declaration of righteousness is heard over our life. Apart from our works, God’s work is enough. [7] Here’s what David says: What happy fulfillment is ahead for those whose rebellion has been forgiven and whose sins are covered by blood. [8] What happy progress comes to them when they hear the Lord speak over them, “I will never hold your sins against you!”
Galatians 4:6-7 NASB
[6] Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” [7] Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
This is what it truly means to be right with God; to be a son fully restored.
Condemnation will cage us, and cause our hearts to hide from God, even though He is offering full acceptance. We need to be pierced by the revelation that we are already sons who are already accepted by God. When this revelation pierces our hearts to the point that our hearts are fully convinced, than wholeness will overtake our lives, and condemnation will lose its voice.
You are a son, fully restored already. God’s favor rest upon you, and it manifest perfectly in those who embrace God’s declaration over them.