7/1/77
A. The integrity of God is composed of His perfect justice and righteousness.
1. Justice is the guardian of all the divine attributes, and at the same time is the point of contact for all the human race.
2. God’s perfect righteousness is the guardian of divine justice, while justice is the guardian of all other divine attributes.
B. There must be no compromise of attributes in the function of the essence of God.
1. Therefore, righteousness demands righteousness and justice demands justice in the function of divine integrity toward man. This is true in the function of divine integrity toward man as well as the function of divine integrity toward the other divine attributes.
2. To avoid compromise and inconsistency, a principle of doctrine becomes axiomatic: divine justice can only bless divine righteousness.
C. Perfect righteousness is the principle of divine integrity, while justice is the function of divine integrity. Divine righteousness gives the orders which justice carries out.
D. God cannot accept anything less than perfect righteousness, and He cannot bless anything less than perfect righteousness.
1. Therefore, the justice of God is only free to bless where God’s perfect righteousness resides. This is why divine righteousness is the first thing we receive at salvation. The justice of God as the source of all direct blessing from God is then free to function toward us without compromise of His integrity.
2. The imputation of divine righteousness is necessary for any blessing from the justice of God. Imputed righteousness is the potential for all future blessing. 3. However, blessing without capacity means misery. Therefore, you need maximum Bible doctrine in your soul to have capacity. God only blesses where capacity precedes.
4. Potential (divine righteousness imputed) plus Capacity (Bible doctrine in the soul) equals Reality (blessings at spiritual maturity).
E. God loves His own integrity. Perfect love only goes to perfect objects. God is able to love the imperfect believer because He imputes His own righteousness to him at salvation.
F. Therefore, what righteousness rejects, justice condemns. What righteousness accepts, justice blesses. This is demanded by God’s righteousness. This fulfills the principle that what justice administers what the righteousness of God demands.
G. At salvation, man receives divine righteousness by a judicial imputation and resultant justification.
1. God recognizes His righteousness wherever it is found, even in you, and in those believers you hate and malign as well.
2. Justification is simply God recognizing His own imputation of divine righteousness to us at salvation.
3. Justification logically precedes all other blessings from the justice of God.
4. Therefore, imputed divine righteousness and resultant justification is the primary potential for all blessings from the justice of God.
H. Therefore, imputed divine righteousness is the potential for blessing.
1. Bible doctrine perceived through operation Z is the capacity for that blessing, and cracking the maturity barrier is the reality of that blessing.
2. Potential one plus capacity equals reality of blessing in time.
3. Matt 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom [salvation] and His righteousness; then all these things shall be provided for you.”
4. God is not compromised when He blesses us, because grace is the policy of blessing. Because righteousness demands righteousness, God cannot save anyone on the basis of emotion or because He feels sorry for them. This would make Christ’s work non-efficacious. Blessing from God has security and capacity.
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R. B. Thieme, Jr. Bible Ministries 5139 West Alabama, Houston, Texas 77056 (713) 621-3740
© 1997, by R. B. Thieme, Jr. All rights reserved.
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