THE DOCTRINE OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
MEMORY VERSE: GAL. 3:10
The difference between the Righteous and the Wicked, is not because of their works, but because of God’s mercy and grace. A good illustration of this may be found in the two thieves that were crucified with Christ. They were both thieves and deserved to die, yet one went to heaven and the other one went to hell. What was the difference between the two? Christ was the difference.
I. THE RIGHTEOUS.
A. The Righteous Are Different In Nature.
1. The righteous have experienced a new birth. John 1:11-13; 3:3
2. The righteous have received a new nature. 11 Cor. 5:17
3. The righteous have a new love. I John 4:19; 4:7,8
4. The righteous have a new occupation. Rom. 6:17,18; I John 5:1,2
B. The Righteous Are Different In Standing.
1. Their sins are under the blood and are all forgiven.
2. They have been redeemed. I Pet. 1:18,19
3. They are justified. Rom. 5:1; 3:24
4. They stand in the righteousness of Christ. Rom. 4:1-8. Once we are saved, our standing always remains the same in Christ. Our state may vary from day to day, but we should be striving to bring our state up as close to our standing as possible. Rewards will vary according to our faithfulness in obeying His Word in our works. I Cor. 3:9-15.
C. The Righteous Are Different In Destiny.
1. Christ is coming for His own. John 14:1-3
2. The righteous shall be like Jesus. I John 3:1,2
3. The righteous will be with the Lord forever. I Thess. 4: 13-18
II. THE WICKED.
Many people seem to think that only those who murder, steal and deny the existence of God, are wicked. In truth, all of the unsaved, even the good moral ones are wicked according to God and His Word.
A. The Wicked Different In Nature.
1. The wicked have experienced only one birth. John 3:6
2. The wicked are by nature the children of wrath. Eph. 2:3
3. The wicked are the children of Satan. John 8:44
4. The wicked have a sinful occupation.. Rom. 3:9-18
B. The Wicked Are Different In Standing.
1. The wicked stand condemned. Rom. 3:19,20
2. They stand in a world of wickedness. I John 5:19
3. They stand under the curse of the law. Gal. 3:10
4. They have no righteous standing. Isa. 64:6; Gal. 3:22
C. The Wicked Are Different In Their Destiny.
Every lost sinner who refuses to repent of sin, and believe in Christ as Saviour, has a terrible destiny to face.
1. The wicked are under the sentence of death. Ezek. 18:4 James 1:15; Rom. 6:23, John 8:24
2. Eternal hell is their destiny. Psa. 9:17; Rev. 20:15, Luke 16:22-26
In view of the above, how important it really is to believe in Christ as Lord and Saviour. The remedy for sin is to be found in Christ alone. Eph. 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; II Cor. 5:21; John 5:24.