When we truly receive Christ we are born again of His Spirit. As we in our adamic nature and by the wisdom and strength given to us by the Holy Spirit obey the commandments of Christ and His Apostles, Christ is formed in us. When Christ is formed in us the Father and the Son make Their eternal abode in the new creation that has grown in us. Now the kindness, truthfulness, compassion, mercy, honesty, helpfulness, consideration of others, modesty, love, joyfulness, and self-control we have always desired are revealed in our behavior because of the new born-again spiritual nature that has been created in us. This is the ultimate form of righteousness.

We see from the above that righteousness is righteousness, whether it is performed by the natural man or by the new spiritual creation. The difference is not that one is filthy rags because it comes from the adamic nature and the other is acceptable to God because it comes from Christ. The difference is that one is imperfect and will crumble under enough pressure while the other, being of Christ, is perfect and will survive in every situation.

The "filthy rags," on the other hand, are the religious efforts of the individual who in his pride strives for spiritual mastery while at the same time disregarding the normal rules of life, and the will and Presence of God. The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was as filthy rags because they, in their religious zeal and self-seeking, attacked Jesus whose only wickedness was to go about doing good and healing the people.

The religious righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was not the genuine righteousness of truthfulness, uprightness, justice, mercy, compassion.

The last great witness to be given to the nations, as symbolized by the "two witnesses" of Chapter Eleven of the Book of Revelation, will be borne by people who reflect in themselves the righteous Personality and behavior of Jesus Christ; not perfect people, not manifested sons of God or anything of the kind. Just ordinary believers operating under a double portion of the Holy Spirit to cast out devils, heal the sick, raise the dead, and preach the soon coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth.

In addition they will perform mighty works of judgment in order to insure that the Gospel witness reaches every nation, and also to reveal to earth's people that the coming Kingdom of God will be installed by force; it will not be brought into being by gentle philosophers and teachers who plead with the wicked of the earth to begin doing what is decent and honorable.

Let's review the five kinds of righteousness.

The religious self-righteousness was exemplified by the scribes and Pharisees. This kind of righteousness sometimes leads to unreasonable and cruel acts as the devotee attempts to adhere to his or her religious acts or rituals. This form of righteousness has little sympathy for those who do not follow its principles. Jesus spoke of religious leaders who loved to sit on Moses' Seat in the synagogue but robbed widows.

To be continued.