Question on Quora:
Indeed, some “righteous” men had concubines, multiple wives, and even children by incest. Yes, they committed sin. Multiple spouses and non-spouses deviated from God’s perfect plan (See Matthew 19:4-6), but God tolerated “for the hardness of your hearts” in ancient times; there were more destructive sins. And as the scriptures record, it always came at a cost, causing family divisions, subterfuge, and sometimes violent strife.
The confusion comes from misunderstanding what righteous means.
There are two ways to be “righteous.” The way that occurs to us first is to achieve righteousness through human merit. Merit includes three main methods.
The second way to be “righteous” is through accounting. God knew nobody would become righteous by their own merit, so He provided an alternative. God Himself would become a man called Jesus of Nazareth, live a perfect life, and like a big brother, take the punishment that we all deserve.
God placed all our guilt on Jesus, and, in exchange, credits the righteousness of Jesus to all who will receive it. He (God) made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus). (2 Corinthians 5:21.) God offers this exchange to us as a gift.
Going back to the three methods of human merit: Trying to earn the gift or even partially earn it insults the Giver. You can’t earn God’s favor by insulting Him.
The righteousness of “righteous” men in the Bible came not through their deeds or their restraint from sins such as polygamy. It came through recognizing their guilt, confessing their sinfulness, and trusting God.
In the Old Testament times, the things they trusted God for varied because the object of trust was gradually defined. Since the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, however, the object of trust has been explicitly defined. We call that definition “the gospel.”
For more background, see:
In the Bible it was said that some righteous men had concubines. Is it not a sin?
Indeed, some “righteous” men had concubines, multiple wives, and even children by incest. Yes, they committed sin. Multiple spouses and non-spouses deviated from God’s perfect plan (See Matthew 19:4-6), but God tolerated “for the hardness of your hearts” in ancient times; there were more destructive sins. And as the scriptures record, it always came at a cost, causing family divisions, subterfuge, and sometimes violent strife.
The confusion comes from misunderstanding what righteous means.
There are two ways to be “righteous.” The way that occurs to us first is to achieve righteousness through human merit. Merit includes three main methods.
- Heritage. Some think God will count them as righteous because they are descended from Abraham, or maybe grandpa was a preacher.
- Church. Many think that a church can convey righteousness to them through membership or ceremonies such as confession and baptism. (Have you watched the Godfather movies?)
- Good works. This includes church activities (#2), refraining from doing evil, and doing loving or charitable acts.
- (1) we will stand alone before God for judgment; deeds cannot be inherited — or as they say, God does not have grandchildren.
- (2 & 3) nobody can be good enough. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) We all blow it. We all sin. And God cannot simply overlook sin and “forgive” it without becoming unjust.
Many think, “I will do good things that will outweigh the bad.” That does not work because we already owe to our Creator the good things we do to justify ourselves. It’s like falling behind on your rent and trying to pay April’s rent with June’s paycheck. We can never catch up or get ahead.
The second way to be “righteous” is through accounting. God knew nobody would become righteous by their own merit, so He provided an alternative. God Himself would become a man called Jesus of Nazareth, live a perfect life, and like a big brother, take the punishment that we all deserve.
God placed all our guilt on Jesus, and, in exchange, credits the righteousness of Jesus to all who will receive it. He (God) made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus). (2 Corinthians 5:21.) God offers this exchange to us as a gift.
Going back to the three methods of human merit: Trying to earn the gift or even partially earn it insults the Giver. You can’t earn God’s favor by insulting Him.
The righteousness of “righteous” men in the Bible came not through their deeds or their restraint from sins such as polygamy. It came through recognizing their guilt, confessing their sinfulness, and trusting God.
In the Old Testament times, the things they trusted God for varied because the object of trust was gradually defined. Since the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, however, the object of trust has been explicitly defined. We call that definition “the gospel.”
For more background, see:
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