Two kinds of righteousness

“For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth.” Romans 10:3-4

Yesterday I focused on why understanding righteousness is the foundation of Christian living starting with Romans 5:21 on how grace has to reign through righteousness unto eternal life. When grace reigns , sin (depression , sickness, poverty,bitterness ,unforgiveness,anger, immorality and all evil) isn't reigning. 

Ephesians 6:14 ,Apostle Paul calls it the breastplate of righteousness meaning it covers the heart ; it is the core of Christianity. Anyone who is not aware of this truth about righteousness cannot reign in life. 

“For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17

Righteousness is a gift from God. A gift is something that is not earned by any form of performance. We do not stand in the presence of God based on how good we live. The right to approach God is sorely based on what Jesus did for you. Let me put it this way :

I have two people : one is a murderer and the other is a very good person(prays every morning , visits the sick and does all those nice things). Both of them DO NOT have any approach to God unless they come to God in the name of Jesus. God does not accept man on the condition of the outward actions , whether good or bad. The good person is not better than the murderer to God. Righteousness is a gift. 

I know this is news to some people but it is the reason why many struggle because they want to earn God’s gift instead of just receiving it. Honest Christians who love God live in defeat because they think their works earn them advantage with God. 

Struggling Christians(in their actions) walk with their heads down and defeated because the think God is angry at them and their works separate them from God. Here is good news : righteousness is a gift. 

Our opening scripture talks about those people who went to establish their own righteousness: this is the righteousness based on performance. However, they were only supposed to submit to God's righteousness which by faith in His Son. 

“for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”Romans 10:10

Man believes unto righteousness, he doesn't PERFORM unto righteousness. I pray this becomes real to you. Your good works don't make you righteous , your bad works don't make you unrighteous, it's all based on your faith in the righteousness of God in Christ. 

“Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;”

Romans 5:1

Justified means declared "not guilty" and this happens by FAITH ALONE. You see, God loves you . He is not angry at you. He is not punishing you for any wrong you did. Don't let the devil lie to you , stand firm and proclaim that you are the righteousness of God. If you believe in what Jesus did , you are at peace with God. Righteousness is a gift. 

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

You are not just "a sinner saved by grace" , you are "a righteous man that received grace"!!! 

Righteousness is a gift , don't try to earn it. 

Further reading : again Romans 5

Remember: You are the righteousness of God❤️