RIGHTEOUSNESS IS BY FAITH

For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; – Rom 10:10

Paul tells us in Rom 10:5,6 that there’re 2 types of righteousness: righteousness by obedience to some set laws, and righteousness by faith. He then proceeds to point out the superiority of the latter.

The link between faith and righteousness is something many Believers take for granted. We read the phrase, “righteousness which is by faith” everywhere in the New Testament and gloss over it like just another churchy phrase.

But our right-standing is really by faith. “The Just (the righteous, the blameless, the lawful) shall live by his faith” (Hab 2:4). Trying to do right in order to be righteous is placing the cart before the horse, and will leave you perpetually seeking after righteousness, (because every time you fail, you get to start all over again).

The Bible, on the other hand, says for you to obtain right-standing with God you must place your faith in the Cross. Rom 3:25 aptly summarises this principle:

God sent Christ to be our sacrifice. Christ offered His life’s blood, so that by faith in Him we could come to God... (CEV)

“Faith” does not take on a new, obscure meaning when it comes to righteousness; it retains its regular meaning. It means you become righteous by BELIEVING.

It is not based on your emotions, on your feeling, or even on the devil’s opinion, but on faith. This is the way the great heroes of the Bible obtained their right-standing with God.

We may already be familiar with Abraham being made righteous by his faith, but long before him, Heb 11: 7 tells us that Noah, also, “received from God the righteousness that comes by faith.” (GNB)

Indeed, in the summary of their exploits in faith, it says that “through faith they subdued kingdoms and “worked righteousness...” (Heb 11:33).

Yes, that’s how they ‘worked it’ back then, but today, it seems we have it reversed. Beloved, for you to live righteous, you must first BE righteous. It is your righteousness – imparted unto you by faith – that enables you to live a holy life, and not the other way round.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN