Righteousness: A Gift, Not an Accomplishment
September 25, 2024
In our pursuit of a righteous life, it’s easy to believe that it can be earned through our own efforts. The world often teaches us that success comes through hard work and good deeds, but Scripture shows us a different reality when it comes to righteousness. Romans 3:23 reminds us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” No matter how hard we try, we are incapable of reaching God’s standard on our own. This humbling truth leads us to the core of the Gospel—righteousness is not something we achieve, but something we receive through faith in Jesus Christ.
The Righteousness of Christ is Imputed to Us
At the heart of the Christian faith is the belief that righteousness is a gift given to us by God through Jesus. Paul explains in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” This divine exchange—Jesus taking on our sin and granting us His righteousness—is a reality that no human effort could ever earn. By placing our faith in Christ, we are clothed in His righteousness, standing before God justified, not by our works, but by His grace alone. This is the beauty of the Gospel: we are made righteous by what Christ has done, not by what we can do.
