The Order of Things:
It all begins with love:
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."
John 3:16
"...Jesus knowing His hour had come that He should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world He loved them to the uttermost."
John 13:1
Then grace:
"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins... but God being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive in Christ (by grace you have been saved) and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus... For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, that no man should boast."
Ephesians 2:1, 4-6, 8, 9
Righteousness:
"Seek first (or continually seek) the kingdom of God and His righteousness..."
Matthew 6:33
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."
Matthew 5:6
"...for the kingdom of God is... righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
Romans 14:17
"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Thy throne..."
Psalm 89:14
"The Lord is righteous in all His ways..."
Psalm 145:17
Again:
"But seek first the kingdom and His righteousness..."
Matthew 6:33
For when the "Word became flesh and dwelt among us" both the kingdom and righteousness came near!
"Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 'Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Lit. has come near).'"
Matthew 3:1, 2
"I bring near My righteousness..."
Isaiah 46:13
"But now apart from law, the righteousness of God has been manifested... even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe..."
Romans 3:21, 22
A testimony of approval; becoming an heir of righteousness!
"But my righteous one shall live by faith..."
Hebrews 10:38
"...For by it the men of old gained approval (Lit. obtained a testimony)... By faith Noah... prepared an ark for salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith."
Hebrews 11:2, 7
"Just as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness..."
Galatians 3:6
"And I will betroth you to Me forever;
Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice,
In lovingkindness and in compassion,
And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness.
Then you will know the Lord."
Hosea 2:19, 20
"So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."
Isaiah 61:3
"Then all your people will be righteous;
They will possess the land forever,
The branch of My planting,
The work of My hands,
That I may be glorified."
Isaiah 60:21
Salvation (saved from the wrath of God):
"For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly... But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified in His blood, we will be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."
Romans 5:6, 8, 9, 10
"But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us..."
1 Thessalonians 5:8-10
"...who delivers us from the wrath to come."
1 Thessalonians 1:10
For:
"It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
Hebrews 10:31
"...for our God is a consuming fire."
Hebrews 12:29
"The Lord reigns (or has assumed Kingship); let the earth rejoice;
Let the many coastlands be glad.
Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
Fire goes before Him,
And burns up His adversaries round about.
His lightnings lit up the world;
The earth saw and trembled.
The mountains melted like way at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples have seen His glory."
Psalms 97:1-6
Again:
"But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us..."
1 Thessalonians 5:8-10
"...who delivers us from the wrath to come."
1 Thessalonians 1:10
Knowledge of God 101: A Fearsome Encounter
Handbook 3: Article 30