The Core Of The GospelSample

The Gift Of Righteousness From God

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith'.

The term “righteous” or “righteousness” can have negative connotations. For some, it may suggest images of long-faced priests in darkened cathedrals that smell of mildew and incense. Or it may suggest pharisaical, holier-than-thou Christians who have lips pursed with disapproval and condemnation, and who feel it’s a sin to have fun.

I hope the term “righteousness” carries none of these connotations for you, because this word is extremely important in the book of Romans for a number of reasons. First, the “righteousness of God” can refer to an attribute of God—God is upright and good in all He does. He is a righteous God.

Second, the “righteousness of God” is often used in the Old Testament to refer to God’s deliverance of his people. It can almost be a synonym of “the salvation of God.”

Third, the “righteousness of God” can refer to a gift of righteousness from God, a righteous status or right standing with God that he gives to all who trust in Christ. This righteousness or right standing is a gift of God. 

The first two meanings may be invoked in the term “righteousness” in Romans, but Paul primarily uses the word with the third meaning. This is God’s gift of right standing with himself. Paul is telling us at the outset of Romans that in the gospel, a right standing, which is God’s gift, is being revealed.

Moreover, this gift of righteous status is “from faith for faith.” That is, it’s completely based on faith, from first to last. It is by faith in Christ, and nothing but faith in Christ. Faith plus nothing. And to further clarify, Paul cites Habakkuk 2:4. Even the Old Testament taught us that we become righteous people by faith. We have life and we live by faith.

So this term “righteousness,” far from being a religious, pharisaical, or morose word, is actually a wonderful word, referring to the incredible gift of God whereby he gives us right standing with him. God removes our sins and puts them on Christ. Then he takes the righteousness of Christ and puts it on us, and it’s all done through the cross. And that’s the gospel: how sinners become right and righteous with a holy God. It’s the best news ever.

From the point that you trust Christ as Savior, forever after, God will not see you in your sin, but only in the blood-bought righteousness of Christ. That’s exactly how you must see yourself.