Study Audio Download

Pro 13:6-8 “The faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith”

(Aired on May 8, 2025)

Pro 13:6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
Pro 13:7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
Pro 13:8 The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

This section of proverbs thirteen is about the value of the true riches that God has given us through Christ who is our sufficiency (2Co 3:5-6, 2Co 3:13-14).

2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;(Php 3:9)
2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

2Co 3:13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
2Co 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. [our sufficiency of God through Christ]

(The letter is what accommodates our self-righteous flesh that uses the law in a controlling way to its own fleshly sufficiency, making us think that we’re better than others because we’ve kept the law (Luk 18:12), when in reality the law is just the schoolmaster that, if used correctly (Gal 3:24-26), prepares us to live under the law of Christ, the law of the spirit of Christ (Rom 8:2) that gives life and brings us unto maturity in Him. Sinful flesh is just the means to an end and it will not inherit the kingdom of God (Joh 6:63).

The law of Moses is for the lawless (1Ti 1:9) and God uses that to ultimately bring us to see how wretched, miserable, poor and blind or lawless we are, until the mind of Christ (the law of Christ) that is so much higher that the law of Moses and all those carnal commandments, is given to us (how it is given to us Eph 2:8-9).

Receiving God’s spiritual counsel and direction in our life (Rom 8:14-16) is only possible by being given eyes that see, and ears that can now hear the instruction of our Father (Mat 13:16). We are only wise sons because God has given us a wise Saviour who is saving us from ourselves in this life if we are His (1Co 1:30, Rom 8:9, Col 1:27))

It is only when our self-righteous hearts are exposed for what they really are that we can start to read, hear (comprehend) and keep the sayings of the prophecy (Rev 1:3) throughout God’s word with the rest of the saints (Eph 3:18-19), and this is when we start to gain great spiritual wealth or insight into every aspect of God’s word [“the sum of your word is truth”]. That wealth comes about as a result of our being given the right mindset, the mind of Christ, that Lord willing will be ours, and is typified by these verses regarding Moses’ attitude toward the reproach of Christ (Eph 2:8) in his life (Heb 11:26-27). [Moses in type and shadow had the keys of the kingdom of God, but like all prophets and kings, we remember Christ’s own words regarding their lives in these verses: (Luk 10:24, 1Pe 1:12)]

Eph 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Heb 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Our goal in this life is to be found without spot before God, having been made ready as the bride of Christ who has come to see that her own righteousness is as filthy rags before Him (Isa 64:6-7) and that only Christ can be Christ.

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Isa 64:7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

When we are brought to see that true condition of our existence by God’s favour, we all weep much at first (Rev 5:4), until God brings us to see that He alone can open up the seals, the trumpets and the vials which must be poured out upon us if we are going to cease from sinning in this life (2Pe 2:14, 1Pe 4:1) and mature through the fiery trials (Eph 2:8) He has ordained for our growth from the foundation of the world (1Pe 4:12, Act 14:22).

2Pe 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

The proverbs we’ve been looking at can be a great encouragement in directing our hearts to be content whether we have a little or a lot, as we forget what is behind us and press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ, toward the only thing that matters most in this life and the next (Php 3:13-15, Php 3:20-21, Php 3:8-9).

Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 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.

Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:(Php 3:14-15)
Php 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, (day by day as we die daily 1Co 15:31, Luk 17:10) that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself (Php 1:6).

Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Pro 13:6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

Only Christ can keep us in the way, because he is “the way”, the truth and the life (Joh 14:6) and if He is residing within these earthen vessels as a pearl of great price (Col 1:27), He is there for the express purpose of overthrowing the sinner and the wickedness that dominates all flesh at first (Joh 8:36, Joh 2:15).

Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Joh 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple (1Co 3:13, 1Co 3:16), and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;

Pro 13:7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

In Babylon, we make ourselves supposedly spiritually rich (Jas 5:3), but in reality we have nothing, no stay of bread or water (Isa 3:1, Mat 13:12). Then, by the grace of God, we are called out of her my people (2Co 6:17-18) and we sell all that we have and come and follow Christ. This is the positive use of ‘poverty’ that we’re looking at in this proverb, which leads to great riches (Mat 19:21, Heb 11:26).

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Mat 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Pro 13:8 The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

When we wholeheartedly present our lives “The ransom of a man’s life”, a living sacrifice unto God (Rom 12:1), we are promised spiritual riches (Mat 6:33) along with promises that are exceedingly great and precious, keeping us with a peace of mind that passes all understanding (Php 4:4-7).

Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Php 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

These blessing are all contingent on our not despising God’s goodness that leads us unto repentance (a tree is known by its fruit, or the condition of the fruit Rom 2:4, Heb 12:15, squeezed, Mat 24:12).

Growing weary of His correction (Pro 3:11) results in our not hearing the rebuke of the Lord, and we end up being corrected and don’t even realize the Lord is correcting us (Heb 12:3-10). We are like a hardened criminal, spiritually speaking, whose heart needs a great earthquake that will be forthcoming if we are His in this age (Rom 5:20-21).

Pro 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

Heb 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (Heb 5:7-8, Eph 5:30)
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Heb 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: [“but the poor heareth not rebuke”]
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

[What if we’re not sinning? Will we still be chastened and scourged of the Lord? (Heb 5:8, 1Jn 3:1, 1Jn 4:17). Christ never sinned (Heb 4:15) and was not learning obedience by the things he suffered because he was sinning, but because he was in sinful flesh that needed to learn obedience.

God’s elect are like Christ in that we also learn obedience by the things that we suffer, being in this sinful corruptible flesh, but also suffer and are corrected by God for the sin in our life that He causes to manifest to His glory, causing us to stumble and completely fall seven times (Pro 24:16), which failing was not given to our Saviour.]

Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace (God’s favour toward his children whom He receives through chastening and scourging) did much more abound:
Rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

That “Grace can reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” of (Rom 5:21), is the same as saying, “The faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” of (Php 3:9).

Knowing and believing in that grace and the Almighty Hand of God that is performing this operation is the most comforting thing we can consider, giving us peace that passes all understanding. That peace which can be ours is confirmed in these last verses of our study (Rom 8:30-39):

Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? (how the fruit is made sweet Rom 8:17-29) If God be for us, who can be against us?

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.