Tag Archive | persons

Jesus free will “subordination” to the Father doesn’t contradict the TRINITY

Jesus lived in another shape long before his start as a human being in Mary’s womb

We know that Jesus Christ didn’t start to exist only some 2000 years ago when he by his own free will was placed as a seed inside Mary, but he existed long before then – from all eternity – albeit not in flesh.

John. 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee BEFORE the world was.— 24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me BEFORE the foundation of the world.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.—14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

He was also together with the Israelites during the Exodus, probably in the form of the Angel of the Lord (not a created angel). This also occurred long before he was born in flesh.

1 Cor. 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;—4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST. — 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

We also know that there is ONE GOD alone, and we know that 1) the Father, 2) Jesus Christ the son, and 3) the holy Spirit, have each been referred to as GOD in the Bible. The only way to combine these truths is to use the concept of the Trinity, and this is also what the early church Fathers did as can be seen here. It’s hard to know exactly how the Godhead functions since it’s the Almighty GOD we are talking about (and we are not required to know exactly how our Creator GOD works as long as we don’t believe in contradictions), but at least we know that Jesus is fully GOD – which is also confirmed by his own Father in Hebr. 1:8.

Col. 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the GODHEAD bodily.

The fact that Jesus always chose to do the Father’s will doesn’t contradict the Trinity, nor does it mean Jesus is of another nature than his Father

Wouldn’t it be more strange if Jesus did NOT do the Father’s will? God the Father remained in heaven when Jesus chose to be born as a baby on earth, and as a man Jesus was lower in rank than the angels – which means that during this time Jesus must have been lower in rank than his Father. However, that’s certainly not the position that Jesus held prior to being born in flesh.

If Jesus would have claimed that he always spoke on his own initiative, there would be reasons to doubt his shared life with the Father, but Jesus often claimed to do the works of his Father – just a he also claimed to have a will of his own. This means that every “he sent me”, and “I only do as told” and “I speak not from myself” should not be construed as evidence against the Trinity, because these expressions are statements of continuity with the Father, rather than indications of their discontinuity. Jesus had no personal agenda to carry out, and he wanted his audience to understand this. That’s why he constantly spoke to them about “God’s kingdom” and “my Father”, in order to highlight that he didn’t come to preach about a new religion or a new God. Jesus emphasized that he always chose to act according to his Father’s will, because he wanted his audience to realize that his words were trustworthy – being completely those of God the Father – the God that the israelites had worshiped all along.

What would his audience think if Jesus would have said: “I have come to do MY will, not the Father’s will! I have come without being sent by the Father–but on my own initiative. The gospel that I preach is my own, and NOT that of the Father. I have come in my own name, and not in the name of the Father”? The son would never take any actions that would interfere with the will of the Father, or in any way place himself over the Father. If the son is capable of choosing to do whatever the Father does, he must be as divine as the Father since he obviously has the power to obey or disobey GOD himself!

Jesus chose to give his own life for us, which means that he had the power to choose to do otherwise

If Jesus wouldn’t be able to choose to lay down his own life, it would be dishonest to claim that this is exactly what he did for us. Either he had this free will capability to make this decision, or he was forced to lay down his life by his Father, having no choice in the matter. Even if the Father first had to make him “willing”, it would still be filed under “Forced” since it would involve a manipulation of the will.

John. 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Gal. 2:²⁰I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Matt. 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Let’s also remember that both God and Jesus are referred to as having created the heavens and the earth “with his own hands” (see for instance Hebr. 1).

Being SENT by someone doesn’t indicate that you’re of another nature than the Sender

Human messengers sent by human rulers, are certainly not LESS human themselves, and if someone by free will places himself in a lower rank than another person, neither does this humble free will decision make him any less human. It’s absolutely possible that the persons in the Godhead made a joint decision to carry out the creation in a certain way that they felt pleased about, and also to carry out the salvation plan in their own preferred way. Such a decision would mean that the Father and the son couldn’t BOTH be born as babies on earth, and the Father and the son couldn’t BOTH remain in heaven while none of them stepped down to earth to live as a man in flesh.

It’s a good thing for us that the persons in the Godhead decided to adopt separate roles within their own nature. “The Father is greater than I” should not be taken to mean that Jesus is not God. Neither would anyone assume that a statement like “the prime minister is greater than I“, would indicate that he is more human than the speaker, nor that he is greater than all others in ALL areas of life. On top of this, a prime minister isn’t a prime minister for eternity, and he can choose to step down and take on a much less authoritative position.

A Managing Director is “greater” in authority than all his employees at work, but off duty he might be a Board member in a Boat club where he is “only” a secretary, and one of his employees (from work) might be the Head of the Board with greater authority when it concerns the Boat club. Maybe this particular Managing Director even had the opportunity to be the Head of the Board for this Boat club but declined, or maybe he even used to be the Head of the Board but stepped down by free will to offer his position to this other person – despite that he had the chance to continue in the highest position. Moreover, this Managing Director – particularly if it’s a female – might not be the top authority in her own home but only at work. Just because you’re in the highest position at work doesn’t mean you’re in the highest position at home. It’s absolutely possible to voluntarily grant another person the authority over oneself – at least in part. As soon as we accept a job position, we will likely have a boss as an authority over us who is much greater in rank at work (and not outside of work).

Let’s say that three friends would like to start a business together, where all three individuals would not be able to fill all job positions in the company. It’s a lot smarter to split the duties to make the company work so much better, and this method wouldn’t change the fact that they are all equal co-owners of the company that they founded together (equal shareholders). Maybe one of them by free will offers to be the one who travels across the world to meet new customers, and he must therefore leave the daily administration of the company to his colleagues, and maybe also all the fancy titles. Again, this doesn’t mean that he is of an another nature than his partners, and neither does it mean that he is inferior to them. They just have a mutual goal to make the company work fantastic, and that’s why every single one of them can’t hold the highest position of the company. Splitting the duties and the titles would be beneficial for all of them and for the entire company. It’s also possible to make an arrangement where they take turns holding the various positions and job titles, or they could decide to keep their positions until the very end, and let only one of them do the hard work away from the office (but also make the decision to reward this particular person abundantly when the final goal has been achieved).

The point is that it’s not possible to use statements such as “the Father is greater than I”, or “I will put everything under his feet”, as evidence for the idea that Jesus is not God. That would be like comparing apples with oranges, because Jesus nature doesn’t have anything to do with the free will arrangement within the Godhead (whether in short-term or long-term). Jesus was in the form of GOD but decided to step down from his position in heaven to become a servant and in the likeness of men. This means that Jesus would start to exist in a completely new form and under totally different circumstances compared with before – by his own free will. Suddenly he lived as a man just like other human beings, and he started out as a little baby just like the rest of us. I don’t think he reasoned and behaved like a 30-year-old man trapped in the body of a little baby, but I truly believe he was like any other human baby with corresponding mental limitations. He still grew up without sin, and probably started to realize exactly who he was when he matured. Luckily God the Father didn’t have to go through the same stages, and God wouldn’t have the ultimate control of this universe if the entire Godhead would suddenly end up as a little baby and could only reason as a baby.

If Jesus wouldn’t be God (which the Father says he is), then it’s strange that the Father wants every knee to bow down before Jesus rather than himself? Is it only to confuse us into believing that Jesus is God?

Phil. 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7 But MADE HIMSELF of no reputation, and TOOK UPON HIM THE FORM OF A SERVANT, and was made in the likeness of men:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

When Jesus lowered himself and washed the feet of the disciples, this was a voluntary action and doesn’t mean that he therefore was a lesser human being than his disciples and inferior to them. In Romans 15:8 Paul says “For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth”, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that Jesus was inferior to the Jews. There is a non-correlation between “submission” and “inferiority”. The Holy Spirit is said to be sent by the Father, and also said to be sent by the Son. Does this in any way make inferiority-assertions about the Spirit of God? No, since it’s only a matter of free will roles within the Trinity.

Jesus speaks of “my Father” and “your Father”, but never “our Father”

Suggesting that God is “our” Father might simply mean that he is our God, but Jesus often spoke in such a way that his audience understood that he made more serious claims than that. Jesus made himself EQUAL with God and he made himself GOD. (If you’re called God you’re either the creator-God or a false god which you can read more about here and here). The jews didn’t understand his words to express subordination to God, but to full equality and being no one else but God. That is the reason they wanted to kill Jesus – due to blasphemy. It can’t be more clear than that.

John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

John 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

Phil. 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God

John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. (NASB) (KJV “only begotten son”)

It’s also well-known that Jesus used God’s own name on himself (IAM, and the alpha and omega) and constantly allowed people to worship him.

The Shekinah glory of the OT is the very presence of God – in the form of a cloud

Jesus is called “the glory of the Father” alluding to the Shekinah glory which was the very presence of God in the tabernacle/temple – not just a representation or manifestation.

When God in form of the angel of the Lord (probably Jesus as can be seen here) appeared to Moses in a burning bush, surely the heaven was not devoid of a GOD? If God was in the burning bush, does this mean that he was unable to appear also before other people at the same time, or does it mean that he was unable to behold each person’s activities on earth because he was too occupied with the conversation that he had with Moses? Is it hard to imagine that our holy Creator can be in multiple places at the same time, and that this divine power doesn’t turn him into several gods?

Ex. 3:2 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.4 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.7 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

In Exodus God also appeared in the form of a cloud during the day and as fire during the night. In some verses GOD is said to have done it, in other places the angel of the Lord is said to have done it and in 1 Cor. 10 even Jesus Christ is said to have done it. Either the Bible is confusing (and we have several gods) or the cloud can be explained by the Trinity-God.

Ex. 40:38 For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

1 Cor. 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;—4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST. — 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

We can also read about the real presence of God in form of a cloud, being in the midst of the priests in the house/temple of the Lord. God was in this cloud (just like he was in the fire in the burning bush) and spoke to those who were present in the form of the Almighty God. The same questions can be asked here. Surely the heavens and the rest of the earth were not devoid of a God, when God was in the form of this holy cloud? Surely God can be in several places at the same time without being accused of being several gods? Surely the God in the burning bush and in the holy cloud was not a lesser God than God in heaven or of another nature? Would we consider the God in the burning bush or in the cloud to be subordinate to God in heaven? Or would we consider the God in the cloud to be inferior to God in heaven only because the former was “sent down”?

2 Chron. 5:13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord;14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God. (+ 1 King 8:10-11)

Ez. 10:3 Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.4 Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the Lord’s glory.5 And the sound of the cherubims’ wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.—18 Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the Lord’s house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

Ez. 43:2 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: —4 And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.5 So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house.6 And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me.7 And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.

Jesus is able to be in the midst of two or three persons who gather in his name, but what happens if more than one group of people gather in his name? Is Jesus only able to visit one group at a time? OR, does he have the power to attend several meetings at the same time and still not be charged of being several “sons”?

Matt. 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

He has put all things under his feet?

Jesus has gone through several stages in his life time, and certain stages are yet to come in the future. Jesus never stopped being God throughout these stages but it has been necessary to say no to some of his divine powers, like when he was in the stage as a human being – and especially as a little baby with reduced mental capabilities. As a human being he was lower than the angels, but before and after this stage the angels were inferior to him and were supposed to worship him (no one should worship anyone else but GOD). Jesus….

He is the Creator of the world and absolutely nothing was before him (1 Col. 1:16, 1 Hebr. 1:8, etc)
He has lived in the form of the angel of the Lord (called Jahve) and communicated with Jahve in heaven
He has by free will been placed as a human seed inside Mary
He has been a baby, a little boy and a full grown man
He has proved to be the promised Messiah
He has shared the gospel of God on earth
He has died a physical death
He has resurrected from the dead
He has been glorified
He will return once again to earth and destroy Antichrist and bring home his Bride
He will reign in the new Jerusalem, where no sun is needed because the LAMB will be the source of light

Much has been made of 1 Cor. 15:27, and people are ready to ditch all sorts of clear verses about the deity of Christ due to this verse which they prefer to interpret in the wrong way.

1 Cor. 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.24 Then cometh the end, when he [Jesus) shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Remember again, that Jesus chose to be born as a baby on earth to carry out a mission, which means that he left his secure place in heaven and some of his divine powers and became even lower than the angels in rank. This means that he must be restored once again when he has completed his task, and who else can restore him but God the Father in the same Godhead? At no time did God the Father lower himself from his highest position that he had together with his son, but always had all the power in the world. As a mediator Jesus will lay down his office at the feet of the Father when he (Jesus) has completed his work to the very end, because the dominion of Christ will one day terminate. Jesus will finally reclaim his divine sovereignty when he has overthrown his enemies – including Antichrist himself (2 Thess. 2:8). Submission can be a voluntary act, and Jesus life on earth was also meant to serve as a model for believers to follow.

The last verse above might tell us that Jesus is actually not subject to his Father at this particular point but later “when all things shall be subdued unto him, THEN SHALL the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him”. This looks like the redemptive post-resurrection son is currently not under the subjection of the Father. This means that Jesus is not and has not been eternally subordinate to his Father, but that his redemptive work has something to do with it. The fact that the son is said to become subject unto the Father in the very end of this stage is because “God may be all in all”. It probably means that they will no longer be separate with a need for one of them to be in the form of an angel of the Lord or as a human being, but they will be united in one permanent role in the Godhead.

Jesus has been given the authority to judge, not because he is the son of God but because he is the son of man who has successfully accomplished what he has purposed to do for mankind. (John 5.27). It looks like Jesus can create, forgive sins, judge, give eternal life, be worshiped, be called IAM just like God the Father, despite that God clearly states that he shares his glory with NO ONE. Only the Trinity can solve this puzzle.

Jn 5.20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.—27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

Rev. 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

The Father and the son are ONE in a totally different way than the body of Christ is ONE

We can be “one” in various ways and the context of “I and my Father are one” in John 10:30 is entirely different from John 17:21-22. In the latter the context is about having the same goal and attitude (as in not having divisions among christians), but in the former passage it’s about being one with the same authority, spirit and nature. The jews understood this too well since they immediately picked up stones to kill him after having made this statement. No one deserves a death sentence for claiming that believers should have the same goals and attitudes, but it’s certainly a death sentence for claiming to be equal with God. God is not the author of confusion, and he is able to express himself in a way that listeners and readers can understand.

John 10:25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.—28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.30 I and my Father are one.31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

Examples of righteous and holy people in the Bible

Feb19

We can be upright, perfect, just, holy, blameless and RIGHTEOUS in this present world

The above terms do not necessarily equal ”to never have been guilty of any sins”. All sinners have been given the opportunity to repent for their sins – to become holy, righteous and blameless – and when Jesus cleanses us from our sins we are completely clean because our old sins have been removed. We do not have to wait until we die before we can honor God by living holy and righteous lives and be faithful to him (Titus 2:11-12). On the other hand, we can not always expect to have perfect and complete physical bodies in this life, which includes Jesus as well. There is a difference between moral perfection and physical perfection.

Eccl.7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

The below terms can be translated just, perfect, upright, unblameable, etc

The Hebrew word tsaddiq (Strong’s 6662)

The Greek word dikaios (Strong’s 1342)

The Greek word teleios (Strong’s 5046)

Examples of Biblical individuals who were righteous due to living righteous lives

I have used the three colors as per above to illustrate the meaning of the original words below. Simple black text means that the person’s righteousness is described without using any of the words above. The Bible certainly has no shortage of people who have lived holy and righteous lives. They may have sinned at least once, but they have repented for those sins and restored their salvation. If the same individuals would have mixed their righteous lives with sin, they would not have been considered righteous before God. A righteous person is someone who lives upright, after first having been cleansed from his former sins – which occurs upon repentance.

Noah

Gen. 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

Gen. 7:1 And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

Abraham

Ja. 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Lot

Gen. 18:23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked 24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

Gen. 19:15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

2 Pet 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

Job

Job 1:8 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect (Strong’s 8535) and an upright (Strong’s 3477) man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

Job. 32:1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.—Job 42:7 And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

King David

Ps. 7:10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

Ps. 18:20 The Lord rewarded me according to MY righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.22 For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.24 Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to MY righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

2 Samuel 22:21 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.23 For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. 24 I was also upright (Strong’s 8549) before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.25 Therefore the Lord hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright (Strong’s 8549) man thou wilt shew thyself upright.27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.

1 King. 14:8 And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes;

1 King. 15:5 Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

2 King. 14:3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did.

Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

King Asa

1 King. 15:11 And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did David his father.—14 But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa’s heart was perfect (Strong’s 8003) with the Lord all his days.

2 Chron. 14:2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God:3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:4 And commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.

King Hezekiah

2 King. 18:1 Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.—3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did.4 He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.5 He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.6 For he clave to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but KEPT HIS COMMANDMENTS, WHICH THE LORD COMMANDED MOSES.

King Josiah

2 King. 22:1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath.2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.

2 King. 23:25 And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.

2 Chron. 34:1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

Enoch

Hebr. 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Moses and all of Israel were told to be perfect (which means they could)

Deut.18:13 Thou shalt be perfect (Strong’s 8549) with the Lord thy God.

Satan

Ezekiel 28:15 Thou wast perfect (Strong’s 8549) in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

Abel and Zacharias

Matt. 23:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

Hebr. 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

Joseph, Mary’s husband

Matt. 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

Joseph, the counsellor

Luk. 23:50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:

Cornelius

Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. —22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

John the Baptist

Mark. 6:20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Simeon

Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

The Apostle Paul (after his conversion)

1 Thess. 2:10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

Acts 23:1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

The priest Zacharias and his wife Elisabeth

Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Various verses concerning righteous people

Below you can read about the contrast between the unrighteous and the righteous, and the issue is obedience to God. You can also read here how we can know if we are the children of God.

Old testament

2 Sam. 4:(Is-Boset)11 How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

1 King. 8:31 If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house:32 Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness. (2 Chron. 6:23)

Ps. 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.—5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Proverbs 3:32 For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

Proverbs 10:11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.—16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.—20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.—24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.—28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.29 The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.—18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.—23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.—27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.—30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

Proverbs 12:1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.2 A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.3 A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.––5 The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.—10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. —.13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.—20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.—.22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.—26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.—.28 In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

Proverbs 13:1 A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.—3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.—5 A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.—9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.—13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.—18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

Proverbs 14:32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

Proverbs 15:24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.—26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.29 The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.31 The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Proverbs 20:7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

Proverbs 21:3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.—6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.8 The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right..—10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.—16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.—21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

Ezekiel 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

New Testament:

Matt. 10:41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

Matt. 13:17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Matt. 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. —37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?—40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:.—45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Matt. 13:49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

1 Peter. 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

1 John 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

Rom. 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

Titus 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

Hebr. 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Matt. 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

1 Cor. 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

Phil 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Ja. 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.