Righteousness is something most people don’t understand outside of the context of being self-righteous. The world identifies with this word’s negative connotations of being narrow-minded and convinced of one’s own moral superiority. However, we can never earn our right-standing with God. True righteousness doesn’t come through our self-efforts, but through childlike faith in Him.

When Christ hung on the cross, a great exchange took place. He had been manifested specifically to take away our sins; He who knew no sin became sin so that we could become the righteousness of God in Him. The type of righteousness we receive from Jesus is different than what the world knows because it’s the gift of God, not of works. Meditating on this keeps us humble and prevents us from boasting about anything we do on our own.

Before Jesus came, the people who lived under the Law of Moses didn’t have a chance to be born again. Now, we do have that opportunity. Having God, Himself, living in us makes us as righteous as Him. As He is, so are we in this world. 

Paul wrote that he was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, because it is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes. Our faith, not our actions, makes us the righteousness of God. Paul had previously been convinced of his own righteousness apart from grace, but changed his mind when he had a personal encounter with grace while traveling. Like Paul, we’re made righteous when we believe in Jesus and in what He did, not in anything we do.

This knowledge takes a tremendous burden off us to do everything right. God has extended undeserved favor toward us because of our belief in Jesus, not because of our own efforts. In the Old Testament, Abraham was counted righteous not by his works, but because he believed God. The promise of righteousness by faith in God’s grace works the same way for us today.

Prayer:

Lord, we no longer have to toil endlessly to please You like the people did under the Law of Moses. We believe You’re already pleased with us when we trust in Christ and what He did for us. We’re thankful for that. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures:

1 John 3:5

2 Corinthians 5:21

Ephesians 2:8, 9

1 John 4:17

Romans 1:16, 17

Genesis 15:6 

For more on how God’s favor changed the requirements to be righteous, click on the link for the DVD, Righteousness by Grace.