New Testament Righteousness
“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
Romans 4:5
New Testament righteousness is a gift you
received when you give your heart to Jesus Christ. It is not predicated
on what good you have done. Isaiah 64:6 declares all your effort, works,
struggles to become righteous before God are like filthy rags. So stop
now and receive the gift of righteousness from God so that you can live
for Him.
After the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross
God imputes righteousness to anyone who believes in His son and not to
those who obey the law Gal 2:16. In 2 Cor. 5:21 Jesus took our sins and
gave us His righteousness. Romans 4:5-8. It is the righteousness that
comes by faith. It is not because you are morally upright or that you
exercise self-control or that you feel so or you’re more present than
any other person. Like the songwriter wrote, it is not by works of
righteousness but Jesus did it all. When you believe it your faith is
accounted for righteousness. You didn’t really need faith to know that
you are righteous by your deeds; you also don’t need faith to know you
are sinful. But you need faith to declare your righteousness in Christ
in the midst of your struggle with temptation and sin. When you have
missed it and you remind yourself that you are the righteousness of God
in Christ, the revelation will cause you to pick up yourself to do the
right thing. I know the devil will jump on your shoulder to challenge
your righteousness, remind him it is because of the blood and the
finished work on the cross.
Thank God for your righteousness
Further Reading: Roman 4:1-8, Philippians 3:1-9
Daily Bible Reading: Morning-Leviticus 4-5; Evening-Matthew 24:29-51
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