Key Point: Jesus is the Righteous One!

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.(1 John 2:1, NIV)

a. Who Jesus was.

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.(1 John 2:2, NIV)

b. How Jesus lived.

Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin!(Hebrews 4:15, CEV) 

c. What Jesus did.
 

17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. 20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.(Romans 5:17-21, NLT)
 

…if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.(1 John 2:1b, NLT)

Key Point: Walk in Righteousness!

If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.(I John 2:29, NIV) 

7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.(I John 3:7-10, NIV)

a. Confront our own unrighteousness!
 

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.(1 John 1:8-10, NIV)

b. Crave righteousness.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.(Matthew 5:6, NIV)

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. (1 Corinthians 10:23-24, NIV)

 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.(Philippians 2:3-4, NIV) 

c. Prioritize Righteousness

…seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.(Matthew 6:33, NIV) 

18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. 19 Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.(Romans 6:18-19, NLT)