Introduction

In the realm of everyday language, righteousness is often perceived as the state of consistently doing what is right. It suggests a moral compass that guides actions in the direction of goodness. But when we look at righteousness from a spiritual standpoint, we discover a profound truth: righteousness is not just a human endeavour, but a divine gift given to humanity through God’s unending love.

In order to fully appreciate this divine gift, let us examine the holy Scriptures, especially Romans 7:21, which alludes to the ongoing conflict between the will to do what is right and the pervasive influence of evil.

Righteousness, as elucidated in this discourse, is a unique endowment from God, a quality or nature imputed to individuals the moment they choose to believe in the Son of God. It surpasses human accomplishments and works because no one can be justified through personal effort outside of God’s divine ordinance.

The fundamental premise is based on the knowledge that God, the ultimate Lawgiver, is intrinsically righteous and that this quality is expressed in His divine laws. It challenges the notion that one can achieve righteousness through personal good works, emphasizing that no matter how earnest the effort is, human goodness falls short of the divine standard.

When the holiness of God is contrasted with human righteousness, it becomes evident how inadequate human righteousness is. Because of God’s intrinsic righteousness, human deeds cannot measure up to the standard that God sets. A striking metaphor is used in Isaiah 64:6 to describe human righteousness: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags.” The Hebrew expression “ukabeged ehdim,” which means “like rags of menstruation”, is used to illustrate how disgusting human works are in the eyes of God.

A biblical statement that emphasizes the universal deficiency is found in Romans 3:10, which states, “There is none righteous, no, not one.” It serves to support the notion that God’s standard of righteousness cannot be met by human moral perfection alone.

What then is the standard by which God’s righteousness is measured? The astonishing thing is that God is the standard of righteousness. At first, this insight might seem counterintuitive: if God is the standard and people fall short, is righteousness unachievable? The answer lies in the divine provision — Jesus Christ.

Since it is inherently impossible for humans to live up to God’s standards, God sent His Son to earth to atone for sin. The profound exchange is expressed as follows in 2 Corinthians 5:21: “For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” Herein lies the crux of the matter — our righteousness is not achieved through personal merit but is imputed through our faith in Jesus Christ.

People must make the deliberate choice to follow Christ in order to partake in this divine righteousness. God’s standard for righteousness is embodied in Jesus, and people who believe in Him conform to this standard. Jesus, who was sinless, takes on sin for humanity, as explained in 2 Corinthians 5:21, making it possible for people to be made righteous in God’s eyes through faith in Christ Jesus.

The Way Forward

The transformative power of embracing righteousness through Christ is encapsulated in 2 Corinthians 5:16-17: “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

This verse describes the transformation that takes place when a person accepts Christ. It represents a transformation from the old self—which was defined by sin and inadequacy—to a new self—which is defined by the righteousness atoned for through faith in Christ.

To solidify this transformation, a personal declaration is encouraged. A profound spiritual rebirth begins with the act of confessing and accepting Jesus Christ as Lord, Savior, and righteousness. Do you want to attain that height? Make this declaration now… “Dear Father, I thank you for your Son Jesus Christ, whom you have made to be sin for me that I might become your righteousness in Him. I acknowledge and confess Jesus as my Lord, my Savior, and my righteousness today. Thank you for making me your child. Amen.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, delving into the divine perspective of righteousness reveals a paradigm shift from human-centric efforts to a reliance on God’s gracious gift through faith in Jesus Christ. It calls people to rise above the limitations of personal goodness and embrace the righteousness that is beyond human comprehension, a righteousness that is bestowed by a loving God through His Son.