RIGHTEOUSNESS (2 Corinthians 5:21, Rom 5:1-10)
INTRODUCTION: Righteousness is defined as “behavior that is morally justifiable or right.” Such behavior is characterized by accepted standards of morality, justice, virtue, or uprightness. Righteousness is the state of moral perfection required by God to enter the kingdom of God. The Bible’s standard of righteousness is God’s own perfection in every attribute, every attitude, every behavior, and every word. Righteousness is the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law. It proceeds on the imputing or crediting to the believer by God himself of the perfect righteousness, active and passive, of his Representative and Surety, Jesus Christ (Rom 10:3-9). Justification is not the forgiveness of a man without righteousness, but a declaration that he possesses a righteousness which perfectly and for ever satisfies the law, namely, Christ’s righteousness (2 Cor 5:21; Rom 4:6-8).
- RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH CHRIST(Rom 3:21, 25-26; 2 Cor 5:21, Philippians 3:8b-9).
The scripture confirmed that there is none that is righteous (Psalm 14:3, Rom 3:10-12, Isaiah 64:6) Though man was created in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1: 26-27), by the disobedience of the first Adam the many were made sinners (Gen 3: 6-7, Rom 5:19, Rom 3:23).
The above put man into a dilemma: God is holy, and we are not. God is righteous, and we are not, So what? The equation is simple. If God requires perfect righteousness and perfect holiness to survive His perfect judgment, then we are left with a serious problem. Either we rest our hope in our own righteousness, which is altogether inadequate, then we need a righteousness not our own inherently. The only place such perfect righteousness can be found is in Christ — that is the good news of the Gospel (Rom 3:21-22, Rom 4:8), we receive righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul refers to Jesus’ act of atonement (Rom 3:21, 25-26; 2 Cor 5:21). Jesus was righteous because He was the means by which God kept His covenant promise and satisfied God’s judicial judgment of humanity’s sin. It is the righteousness of Jesus Christ that is imputed upon the Believer. We are not righteous in and of ourselves. Our righteousness comes from God and God alone through Jesus Christ.
- “Righteousness” and “J Are the terms “righteousness” and “justification” are synonymous, but word is similar but they are different In Paul’s letters the focus of justification is mostly on the legal acquittal of guilt, while righteousness is used mostly in reference to the virtuous character. Justification—being legally declared free from guilt—does not instantly make one perfectly righteous. Paul makes it very clear that growth in godly righteousness is a process. Attaining the mature righteousness of Jesus Christ is a goal toward which we must continue to strive. This justification is a one-time act whereby God declares a sinner like you and me to be not only not guilty but perfectly righteous. To remain justified after being forgiven, one must behave in a righteous or just manner from that time forward. In other words, the faith required to be justified must be confirmed in one’s actions. (James 2:21-24, Philippians 2:12-13). The basis for the divine declaration is the doing and dying of Christ. God credits (or imputes) us with the righteousness (merit) of Jesus. We are justified by grace (a gift) through faith (trusting in Jesus). (Rom. 3.24; 4.1-5; 5.1; 2 Cor. 5.21, Tit. 3.7).