#Understanding_the_Righteousness_of_God_revealed_in_Christ_Jesus.
Deuteronomy 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.
The righteousness of man obtained in strict adherence to the law does not justify a man before God, and obviously does not avail him of his sins.
Now see what Moses started saying to the children of Israel in chapter 9
Deuteronomy 9:4 Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.
Deuteronomy 9:5 Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Deuteronomy 9:6 Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.
How is it that Moses took time to emphasize again and again in three verses of a single chapter that their righteousness is not the reason why they posses the land, but because of the people's wickedness.
The land there speaks of Salvation. The people's wickedness speaks of the works of the devil.
He is obviously saying that salvation is not earned, but it's given by grace.
What then is God's righteousness?
God's righteousness is his Salvation.
Micah 6:5 O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.
*Micah 7:9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.
Zephaniah 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
All these scriptures speaks of God's righteousness as his Salvation. The saving power of God is in his righteousness, and Christ has become our righteousness. It was in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus that Christ purchased our righteousness.
Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Romans 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
The righteousness without the Law has been spoken by the law and the prophets, and that is what Moses wrote in the law. Salvation does not come from our own righteousness. It is of his righteousness alone. Faith in his finished works gives us his righteousness.
Romans 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
God's righteousness revealed in Christ Jesus is a free gift to all who believes.
Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
The righteousness of the law has been fulfilled in us. We are no longer debtors to the law. Christ has paid it all.
Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Romans 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Romans 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Christ is the end of the Law. The day Christ died on the cross, the Law seized to take precedence over men's lives.
Our righteousness is of no value to God. In the scale of justice, it measures zero and less. It is equated as unrighteousness when valued by the law.
See this scripture:
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Filthy rag was the qualification for our righteousness. How wonderful!
Jesus told his disciples this:
Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
The righteousness the Pharisees and Scribes kept was that of the Law. They observes days, months and years as Paul recorded in Galatians. But Christ warned his disciples that the only way to gain eternal life (Salvation) is by faith in his finished works. They must see beyond the righteousness of the law.
Romans 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Israel are blinded because they fail to submit to the righteousness of God. They still find it hard to believe that the dispensation of the law is over. They were never able to attain the Law of righteousness by their observance of the law and never would be.
Paul's Remark on Righteousness
Philippians 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
3:4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
3:9 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:
3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
The knowledge of Christ here speaks of faith in the finished work of Christ. Paul came to understand after his encounter with Jesus, that he no longer had an obligation to keep the law. He acknowledged that he is justified by grace through God's faith, and by believing in the Son of God.
Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
It is the mercy of God that brought about our salvation. This was what brought Israel who was a type of the present church into the promised land. It isn't about our works of righteousness. The holy ghost has become the guarantee of our salvation, he makes and keeps us eternally righteous, and as such saved. Paul said in verse 8 that it is a faithful saying to constantly affirm and declare your righteousness in Christ Jesus.
It is therefore faithless to confess that you are a sinner.
There is no more record for your sins, and God obviously does not record new sins in his book. It's called the book of life because it's Christ himself. He has declared us eternally righteous unto God. He is no more holding anything against us. There is therefore Now NO CONDEMNATION to them who are IN CHRIST JESUS.
Stay conscious of God's righteousness revealed in Christ Jesus.
I call you blessed.
©Chris Valentine