The Fruit of the Spirit Is Righteousness

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LESSON 11

*March 6 - 12

The Fruit of the Spirit Is  Righteousness

SABBATH AFTERNOON

Read for This Week's Study:

Matt. 23:25-28, Rom. 3:28, 8:4, 10:3, Gal. 3:6, 1 John 2:3-6, 5:1-3.

Memory Text:

" 'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled' " (Matthew 5:6, NKJV).

Last week we finished our study on nine branches of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23). The next two weeks we will study two more: "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth" (Eph. 5:9, NKJV). In this verse, Paul repeats the reference to "goodness" while he adds righteousness and truth. This week we look at what this "righteousness" is. We understand righteousness in two ways. First, there is the imputed righteousness of Christ, which is what Jesus has done for us, the righteousness that covers us and that is our title to heaven. Second, there is the imparted righteousness of Christ, which is what He does in us, through the Holy Spirit, to mold us into His image. Thus understood, righteousness has two inseparable components, even though it's all really one righteousness--the righteousness of Christ, without which we would have no hope of salvation.

*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 13.