Righteousness Through Faith is to Lift Up the Righteousness of God
Those who just come into contact with the fundamental truth of “Righteousness Through Faith”, might have the question: “Why isn't it “Righteousness Through Goodness”?
1.One needs to understand what is true goodness first:
God is completely righteous and holy; and He is the Only One who is good:
“No one is good--except God alone. ” (Luk 18:19)
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (Jam 1:17)
The limited goodness of man comes from God. However, because of the original sin, disobeying and leaving God, the goodness of man is incomplete and falls short of the glory of God.
“"There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.
All have turned away, they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good, not even one." ” (Rom 3:10-12)
“Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. ” (Rom 3:19-20)
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ” (Rom 3:23)
If one does not know and believe the source of all the true goodness -- God, from where can he mention about the goodness? Without relying on God, what good can one do?
2. Righteousness through faith in LORD Jesus Christ:
“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, ” (Rom 3:22)
“and (all) are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-- he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. ” (Rom 3:24-26)
“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. ” (Rom 4:25)
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ” (Rom 5:1)
“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! ” (Rom 5:9)
“Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." ” (Gal 3:11)
“But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.” (Gal 3:22)
“So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. ” (Gal 3:24)
We lift up the truth of “Righteousness Through Faith”; that is to lift up the righteousness of God. We are reborn and receive the new life because of righteousness through faith. After the rebirth in Christ, we should trust in LORD more, and obey the Holy Spirit, so that to let the spiritual life grow, be away from sins and be holy, be one in Jesus Christ, and restore the good and glorious image created by God. In this way, we will inherit the promised possessions of the eternity. How to be holy and be one in Jesus Christ? This has been explained completely in the Bible. Thanks and praises be to LORD! The Holy Spirit inspires and guilds me to write this series of messages to illuminate that: The will of God to us is to be one in Jesus Christ.
This message is written and enlightened under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. All thanks, praises, and glories be to God!
