And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 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. 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. 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. (1 John 2:28-3:10 KJV)

The transliteration of the Hebrew word for righteousness is zedek. Zedek can also be translated in English as justice or equity. God’s righteousness shows itself on earth as man’s justice. Therefore a righteous man’s life is characterized by justice, fairness, and equity in his dealings with others. He obeys God’s laws, but he also implements those laws in mercy. Thus James proclaims that mercy triumphs over judgment. God has always dealt with mankind under the principle of mercy. Yes, he warned Israel that he would judge and destroy them if they disobeyed his laws and he finally did, but not until he had allowed their disobedience to grow over hundreds of years until, finally, no hope of repentance remained for them. God did not mete out judgment to them every time they disobeyed. He granted them mercy and space to repent.

Now, for two thousand years all of mankind has lived in the age of grace, the age of mercy. But few, very few, responded to God’s call to repent of their sins and lay hold of mercy and truth during this age. In fact we have actually witnessed the entire world spurning God’s call of grace and forgiveness by faith in Jesus Christ.  Isaiah says,

If favor is shown to the wicked,
    he does not learn righteousness;
in the land of uprightness he deals corruptly
    and does not see the majesty of the Lord. (Isaiah 26:10 ESV)

God raised up several nations over the course of the last two thousand years to proclaim his truth, most notably Great Britain and the United States. Both countries sent missionaries throughout the world and preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. And, also most notably, these two “lands of uprightness” now manifest the greatest corruption ever known to mankind. Therefore, now the rest of Isaiah’s prophesy here comes soon to pass.

My soul yearns for you in the night;
    my spirit within me earnestly seeks you.
For when your judgments are in the earth,
    the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
10 If favor is shown to the wicked,
    he does not learn righteousness;
in the land of uprightness he deals corruptly
    and does not see the majesty of the Lord.
11 O Lord, your hand is lifted up,
    but they do not see it.
Let them see your zeal for your people, and be ashamed.
    Let the fire for your adversaries consume them. (Isaiah 26:9-11)

The time has now come when God will rule the earth again under his law. He will now glorify and establish his overcomers, his firstborn sons, to administer his fiery law with a “rod of iron.” They will possess all power by which his law will be obeyed. Yet even then they will wield their rod of iron with mercy, for, again, Isaiah prophesies,

Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; betray not him that wandereth. Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land. And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment [justice], and hasting righteousness. (Isaiah 16:3-5)

Every overcomer, upon his glorification, will become one of the “Order of Melchizedek.” Melchizedek means king of righteousness. Each one will have proven his qualification to be inducted into this order by the life he lived here on earth. And each one will become a prince who rules a specific jurisdiction. Are you an overcomer in Jesus Christ? Is your life characterized by the visible attributes of God’s righteousness, that is, by mercy and truth, by grace and justice? Then lift up your heads, O Ye Gates, for your redemption draweth nigh!