THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS #2

What is 'righteousness'? Our automatic unspoken answer is that it is a standard of behaviour that we must attain, and our minds automatically think in terms of 'self-righteousness'  - of people who think that they are good enough to gain God's approval.

In one way, such a perception is correct. But at another level it is grossly incorrect. 'Righteous' is a legal term: it means to be guilt free. So 'righteousness' is the state of being guilt free. Not free from the feeling of guilt, but acquitted of real legal guilt. It is to be declared 'not guilty.'

But here we encounter a problem: the Bible teaches clearly that 'no one is good', 'no one is righteous' because 'all have sinned' and continue to sin. On the basis of our own thoughts, attitudes and actions, not one of us can attain this state of 'righteousness', this declaration of acquittal. We are all guilty in the presence of God.

We saw last week that the 'righteousness' of which the Gospel speaks is a gift. That it is unearned, unmerited, undeserved.

This gift of 'righteousness' is God's declaration that we are legally acquitted ' declared 'not guilty' even though we are guilty. This 'not guilty' declaration is given by God to those who believe.

Thus Paul states: 'I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes ' For in the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last'?

It has been called an 'alien righteousness' ' a not guilty declaration, an acquittal that has nothing to do with me, that comes from outside of me, that is granted to me because the righteousness of another is credited to me.

That 'other' is Christ. Having understood this Gospel offer of the gift of 'righteousness' Paul cast aside all that he saw as his own personal 'righteousness' and embraced and trusted in the righteousness of Christ alone.

Even so may we.

Scriptures: Romans 3:9-24; 1:16-17; Philippians 3:1-11.