The Righteousness that God Demands

Can we achieve the purpose of Go through the performance of Man?

Does Christianity make you tired? I know for me it does when I try to do it myself.

You see in the bible we have a representation of God’s plan for salvation, righteousness and faith, and how we are to live in light of those things. But in Churches around the world, what passes for Christianity is “How do you measure up”. I would like to elaborate on this and I will in the future; but let me just introduce the concept that I am trying to convey with three fairly simple verses from Romans chapter 9.

Romans 9:30-32, “What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.”

Paul asks the question; how is it that the gentiles have attained righteousness. It is through faith that they have done this. In actuality, I believe that Paul is trying to convince his readers that it is God that provided any and all righteousness; this is not a righteousness achieved by mans effort.

At this point many of you who may be tired, and worn out trying to measure up may be breathing a sigh of relief. Righteousness is not something that you or I can achieve. It is a gift provided to us by God through Jesus Christ. In the same way that Christ took our sin upon him at the cross; so too he bestowed His righteousness to us by way of imputation. Paul commented on this righteousness coming from outside of himself in the short book of Philippians.

“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:” Philippians 3:9

Here again Paul emphasizes that this “alien righteousness” is by faith. I say alien because it comes from outside, not inside of us. It is alien to our character, our nature, our person and our life.

Paul continues in Romans with verse 31 “But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.”

In comparison to the Gentiles receiving the righteousness of Christ by FAITH; Israel, unfortunately was attempting to attain the very same righteousness by way of the law; this is not possible. Nobody has ever become righteous by the deeds of the law. And God was not going to honor even the most strenuous attempt.

Paul gives an explanation as to why Israel had failed in their attempt to achieve a righteousness of their own. In verse 32 he says; “Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;”

The entire reason for Israel’s failure and the Gentiles success is the one sought righteousness by law, the other by faith. This became a stumbling block for Israel.

The fact is, Jesus has achieved a perfect righteousness that He offers to you and I by faith. Those who would attempt to establish a righteousness of their own outside of the work of Jesus Christ are in essence saying: “Jesus righteousness is not good enough for me, I will achieve my own by my own efforts, and God will have to accept that.”

Problem is, God has established his Son as the provider of righteousness as a gift, and to refuse that gift is the height of rejection of Christ and of God. The righteousness of Christ is the righteousness that God will accept.

Maybe that is why so many people in churches all across our land are so tired. I began to see the truth of this principle many years ago and as I have grown in this truth I have become more refreshed with the presence of Christ in my life as He lives through me, by His life that is in me, by his Spirit that enables and strengthens me, and I live in His righteousness in Him.

Ponder this, and let me know if maybe Christianity is wearing you out. I know it did me for a long time, but there is no more refreshing thing than to see Jesus accomplish His purpose in me through His Spirit, using His name, His power, His will, and with the result being His glory.

Let me know how you are all doing in this area. I know I am still learning, and growing in the grace and knowledge required to live by faith, I am certainly not done yet, but I would sure benefit by hearing about your story in this journey.


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