WHAT IS RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH?

[tomdurst]

WHAT IS RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH?

“ . . .and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith” (Philippians 3:9 NKJV)

The righteousness that we need to be acceptable to God must be absolutely perfect, without stain or blemish. That righteousness has been provided absolutely and fully in Jesus Christ Who IS our righteousness. He embraced the entire human race in His work of redemption and now is our High Priest Who represents those who believe in Him before the Father as perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Paul says this righteousness is “through faith in Christ” and that it is “from God by faith.” Faith is the hand by which we reach out and lay hold of the righteousness of Christ but even the faith to believe is the gift of God and not of human will power or origin. Righteousness (right standing with God; perfection) is by faith alone. Our good works show forth the reality of our faith but are never the basis of our salvation. Even our very best works as believers are not acceptable in and of themselves but are fully acceptable through Jesus Christ our Substitute and Representative. It is our privilege as believers to live each day in the sunshine of God’s love and know that regardless of how well we are doing we are fully accepted and perfect in Christ. Other people may find fault with us but God views us as perfect through His Son. Can we not praise God for such a great salvation and strive to live for His honor and glory?

"Therefore a man can with confidence boast in Christ and say: 'Mine are Christ’s living, doing, and speaking, his suffering and dying, mine as much as if I had lived, done, spoken, suffered, and died as he did.’ "—Martin Luther, Two Kinds of Righteousness

What I’m saying above is an attempt to concisely summarize what “righteousness by faith” means. Whole books have been written expounding on this topic and related themes. They are most fully developed in the writings of Paul but are found throughout the entire Bible as well. Study for yourself. The message of “righteousness by faith” is rarely presented today with power and clarity but it is needed now more than ever.

I invite you to read the companion article to this one: ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED.  Just click on the link below:

ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED