RIGHTEOUSNESS

RIGHTEOUSNESS

“But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker. “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” —Galatians 2:17-21

We are justified in Jesus, but He absolutely does not promote sin. Paul was, apparently, accused of this in Romans 3:8— “Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!” Paul also wrote, as moved by God’s Holy Spirit that we “were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love” (Galatians 5:13; I Peter 2:16).

Paul was not going to become a lawbreaker by trying to rebuild and be justified by the law. No, through the law he died to the law that he might love for God. He understood that when Jesus was crucified that he was crucified right there with Him. The life He now lived was a life of faith in Jesus who lived in him, loved him and gave Himself for him. This righteousness of God came through Jesus and is all of grace, not of works, not of a check off list.

“Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” —Romans 3:19-22

The absolutely only defense we have against the wrath of God is the righteousness given to us through Jesus when we called on His Name (Romans 10:13; II Corinthians 5:21). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rR_Rdb1CTE “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! (Romans 5:9). Praise God for His mercy and grace!

Dear Father, I am so grateful for Jesus’ willingness to take my sin on the cross and give me Your righteousness. This is all of You and I am grateful. Now may I live a life of gratitude in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.