The second kind of righteousness is the upright behavior of ordinary people who have integrity. There are people who are kind, gentle, and honest. You can find them about anywhere and among all nationalities. God does not regard the attempts of decent people to do what is right as filthy rags just because they are not Christians.

Sometimes people of the world demonstrate more integrity of character than is true of many Christians. Have you ever noticed this phenomenon?

It appears that current Evangelical teaching with its overemphasis on imputed righteousness often produces people who do not behave well at all. They are malicious slanderers, filled with bitterness and unforgiveness. Yet their pastors tell them that they are righteous in God's sight because they have "accepted Christ." But the people of the world see them as they actually are, so they are not good witnesses of God no matter what they proclaim.

Sometimes we say Heaven will be filled with sinners who are saved by grace. Let us pray that this is not true, or if it is that we might not go there.

Could you picture yourself in Heaven surrounded by sinners who are saved by grace? Imagine what would happen if one of these "saved sinners" stole one of your golden slippers. You found out about it and went to the individual.

"Give me back my slipper."

"Forget you!"

"You are a thief."

"No I'm not, God sees me through Jesus so I'm not a thief."

Oh Brother Thompson, don't you know you can't sin in Heaven?

Oh no? Sin began in Heaven around the Throne of God.

Heaven will not be filled with sinners saved by grace but with new creations—the spirits of righteous people made perfect, as the Book of Hebrews says.

The third kind of righteousness we have mentioned is imputed, or ascribed righteousness. The Lord Jesus Christ kept the Law of Moses perfectly and then died for our sins. In accordance with God's laws Christ is authorized to impute the fulfillment of the righteous requirements of the Law of Moses to whomever He will.

There is a condition attached to being without condemnation based on imputed righteousness—it is that we are not living in our fleshly desires but in obedience to the Spirit of God.

In order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:4—NIV)

Imputed righteousness is forgiveness, not moral transformation. Therefore it does not solve God's problem of sin in His creation. The Divine problem does not begin to be solved until we embark on the remaining two kinds of righteousness.

The fourth kind of righteousness of personality and behavior comes into existence as a joint venture of our adamic personality and the Holy Spirit. As we choose to obey the commandments of Christ and His Apostles the Holy Spirit provides us with the necessary grace to be successful. The promises to the overcomer are attained by those who, through Divine grace, do God's will in spite of the obstacles, challenges, and pressures placed in their path. Such people increase daily in actual righteousness of personality and behavior and Christ is formed in them.

To be continued.