You Are the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus

Availability of Righteousness

[Rom 1:16-17, 3:10, 21-24, 10:5-10; 1Tim 6:11-12]

Most people struggle with the idea of being righteous, because they are so well taught the Scriptures declaring man’s sinfulness. Get your Bible and follow along….

Rom 3:10 (NKJV) –As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one.

All the world is guilty – but by our faith we have been justified (declared not guilty).

Do not stop reading Romans chapter 3 when you come to verse 10. You are not under the Law, “But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested… …through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe.”

All men are born sinners, but the gift of righteousness is available to all born-again believers. Jesus paid for this gift on the cross. When we study the Bible, we must discern the context as to which scriptures refer to believers, and to those that refer to unbelievers.

When we keep reading the whole passage, after Paul quotes some OT verses and how the Law works (3:11-20), we find verses 21-24 where it says;

Rom 3:21-24 (NASB) – [21] But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, [22] but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction, [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.

The phrase, “but now apart from the Law” Paul is contrasting the Old Covenant with the New Covenant, the old age of rebellion with the new age of righteousness. All humans have violated every set of moral guidelines. Our main problem as fallen mankind is that we want no guidelines at all except our own selfish, self-centered desires (cf. Gen 3) which so characterizes modern western individualism.

“But now,” is a transition form dirty rotten sinner, to “all those who believe.” Don’t call yourself a “sinner saved by grace.” That keeps the focus on sin. Call yourself what God calls you, “justified by His grace!”

“Being justified as a gift by His grace” This is where the gospel begins – the grace of God who gives righteousness (cf. Rom 5:15-17; 6:23; Eph 2:8-9). The Greek term “justify” (dikaioô) is from the same root as “righteousness” (dikaiosune).

If God has justified you by His grace through redemption, you are His righteousness in Christ Jesus!

Righteousness Is Revealed From Faith To Faith

Righteousness is actually received when you are born again. Because many have not understood the righteousness of God which is by faith, they have failed to experience the full joy of God’s gift. This lack of knowledge causes you to walk in fear, guilt, condemnation and a sense of inferiority. In our ignorance, these are the very things we attempt to cover up with our self-righteousness. It is wonderful how the good news empowers the revelation of the righteousness of God, from faith to faith (see, Rom 1:16-17).

Rom 1:16-17 (NASB) – [16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. [17] For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH.”

The message of righteousness is good news. The moment you hear this word, it should cause faith to rise up in your spirit-man. In your heart you want to receive. It is yours, a gift from God.

To put your faith to work, you must believe and confess.

Rom 10:10 (NASB) –for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

I like to think of this the beginning of Using The Word Of God For A Victorious Life. This is a confession of faith, not a confession of sin. If you were born-again by saying a “sinners prayer” that is great, but you must continue speaking God’s Word over your life to sustain the victory that Jesus provided. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble (Ps 107:2).

Everything we receive from God is by believing with the heart, and confessing with the mouth. When you speak in line with God’s Word, i.e. “Jesus is Lord, by His stripes I am healed!” These things will begin to manifest.

Pursue Righteousness

1Tim 6:11-12 (ESV) – [11] But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. [12] Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

What are “these things?” They are the context of 1Tim 6:11-12! When we go back a few verses we see these things are what false teachers cause, futile discussions, more questions than answers. Rather than seeking godliness, they are fascinated with deeper knowledge about unrevealed areas or peripheral areas of truth. Trying to read between lines of doctrinal issues, which only causes arguments and prideful divisions. They glory in detailed ideas of vague apocalyptic and prophetic passages instead of a relationship with Jesus. These teachers want to be paid, without feeding the flock. Religious business, instead of true ministry – wealth, instead of contentment. Run from these things!

The contrast of “flee these things” is to “pursue righteousness” dio’ko; (G1377). To follow or press hard after, to pursue with earnestness and diligence in order to obtain, to go after with the desire of obtaining (cf. Rom 9:30, 31; 14:19; 1Cor 14:1; Phil 3:12, 14; 1Thes 5:15; 2Tim 2:22; Heb 12:14; 1Pet 3:11).

Take hold of: epilambáno, (G1949). from epí (G1909), upon, and lambáno (G2983), to take. to lay hold of in order to obtain and possess. The opposite is to leave behind or forsake.

Confession: homología; (G3671) from homologéo (G3670), to agree, confess, say the same. A confession, profession, or recognition. In Heb 3:1 Christ is called “the High Priest of our profession,” i.e., our common faith. Homología is also used in 2Cor 9:13; Heb 10:23. Used in an absolute sense, meaning confession of Christ and to Christ.

Righteousness Speaks

Rom 10:5-10 (ESV) – [5] For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. [6] But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) [7] “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). [8] But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); [9] because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Paul personifies “righteousness.” It speaks in the OT quotes in Romans 10:6-8.

I find it interesting that Paul personifies other theological concepts in Romans.

• death reigned as king (cf. Rom 5:14,17; 6:23)
• grace reigned as king (cf. Rom 5:21)
• sin is not to reign as king (cf. Rom 6:12,14)

The real question is who is reigning in your life? The believer has the power in Christ to choose! The tragedy for the individual, the local church, and the Kingdom of God is when believers choose self and sin, all the while claiming grace!

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, open the eyes of the people. Our free gift of righteousness, came at the supreme cost of the Father’s Son. We must realize who we are in Christ.

All men are born sinners, but Jesus paid for the gift of righteousness on the cross, making it available to all. We, as born-again believers, by faith have been justified. God has declared us NOT GUILTY! We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus! Amen.

You are welcome download Righteousness.pdf

God bless you my friend,

— Dwight Hammond