RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH FAITH

SATURDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2022

There is a righteousness which has no defect, which also is the foundation of all spiritual blessing and truths, more deeply significant than any good thing man has to offer. It is the righteousness of God through faith revealed in Christ Jesus to fulfil divine intention and purpose in the lives of all who believe.

Reference: Romans 3:20-25 New International Version (NIV) "This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

Beloved, this righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile. In other words, the righteousness is of the same quality and absolute completeness, both for the Jews and Gentiles. God did not reduce the texture or the peculiarity of this righteousness, when its connected to the Jews or applicable to Gentiles. There is a balance in the favour. Why? For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. All men, both the "Jews and Gentiles" were found guilty of sin. And now, as a result of Christ's death, all are equally and freely justified by God's grace through the redemption that came by Him, in relation to God's eternal purpose.

Another aspect of communicating the same thought, according to Pauline writings, is that this righteousness is a fountain that wells up from the depths of the good pleasure of God's grace. That means God put all energy into His will and acted out of His gracious love, to ensure that the separation between us and Him was dealt with and abolished, which is sin. To instantiate this, the Bible says, "He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness]" (2 Corinthians 5:21 AMP). And this righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. In other words, faith is the instrument by which we receive the righteousness.

In the spiritual realm, once any man receives Christ and the indwelling of His Spirit by living faith, his conscience is informed of this righteousness and awakened to the undeniable truth that he's been freely justified by grace. He is now as righteous as Jesus is, and has a new life which is divine. This righteousness becomes his new nature and also his life, a spiritual one with new spiritual senses, new faculties, new desires, new hope, joy, divine passion and appetites. Although we don't see this righteousness with the physical eyes, it now governs and influences our entire lifestyle, such that our conversation becomes new, and our mindsets and attitudes begin to transform by the renewing of mind with the Word (Romans 12:2). Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Proverbs 14:34; Matthew 6:33; Romans 1:17; 1 Peter 2:24; Romans 10:4.

Exuberant Declaration: I am born of God, created anew in Christ Jesus. I walk in the light and stand in union with Him, having His righteousness. I'm justified freely by the grace of God through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. Therefore, I'm set apart for God to walk in righteousness and to be built by the Word in conformity to His image. I'm holy and unblamable in Christ and I communicate His influence and grace to others in my world, thereby executing His righteous will and flowing in perfect harmony with His sovereign purpose. Hallelujah!