But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify (Romans 3:21 NIV).
Righteousness is a word many use without a proper understanding of what it means. The world can’t define righteousness; it must be understood from God’s perspective. How can a man who isn’t righteous describe righteousness? It’s impossible to define what you’ve never known or experienced.
For many, righteousness is reduced to moral uprightness, often an exaggerated view of personal conduct. Some consider themselves righteous in their work; others in their families or communities. But these are human attempts to define something divine.
The Scriptures tell us something important about man’s righteousness and the different kinds of righteousness that exist in the world: they’re as filthy rags: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6).
That means every form of righteousness that originates from man, every standard built on human effort, and every confidence grounded in personal conduct falls short before God. No matter how morally upright one may appear, it doesn’t make him righteous before God. What then is righteousness? How does a man become righteous before God?
Romans 3:21 (NIV) gives us an idea; it says, “But now apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been made known….” This shows that there’s a righteousness from God and it isn’t based on performance or adherence to the Law. It’s something divine; it comes from God Himself.
Romans 5:17 declares: “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” The righteousness from God, therefore, is a gift. It’s not achieved; it’s received.
This changes everything. You don’t try to be righteous before God; you receive His gift of righteousness. It’s not about your efforts; it’s about what He has made available in Christ. This is the righteousness that qualifies you, empowers you, and brings you into right standing with God. We’ll explore this some more in our next study.
Prayer / Confession
I’m the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Righteousness is my nature. I walk in the consciousness of my right standing, free from guilt, condemnation, and inferiority. I reign in life through Christ, expressing His nature and fulfilling His will in Jesus’ Name. Hallelujah!
