Theology for Everybody: RomansSample

(Continued from Day 32)

Jesus’ Works (Gift Righteousness)

The Christian gospel recognizes that humans are the problem, and we can’t possibly be the solution. All of us are unrighteous, and only God can be righteous. Thus, what needs to be done can only be done by God through Jesus Christ. Jesus lived a perfectly righteous life without sin and died as a substitute in our place to meet the demands of righteous justice. Then He rose to give us the gift of righteous eternal life. So, Paul teaches that “righteousness” is not of us but only “of God” and received by us from God “by faith” in Christ. It’s through Jesus that we are declared righteous. Some English translations explain God’s righteousness as having been “given to you” by God and “received” by you as a gift you did not earn. Paul says, “The righteousness of God is revealed,” and it’s received through faith. It’s revealed in Jesus and received through faith in Jesus.

People take themselves too seriously and don’t take God seriously enough. And they take their little cause or issue so seriously that they don’t take the cause of Jesus seriously enough. We do this with all kinds of issues. If you say, do, believe, or align with this, then you’re righteous. Everybody who’s against you is unrighteous. Therefore, you need to evangelize them to join you. And if they don’t repent of their cause, issue, or ideology, then you need to judge them like God and pour out your wrath on them so that their life feels like hell!

So, is there an option? Yes. If it’s not works righteousness, then it’s gift righteousness. If it’s not what I do, then it’s what Jesus does. The point is this: there is a problem between God and me. Here’s the first thing you need to know: I’m the problem, not the solution. All works righteousness says is there is a problem, and you are the solution. Christianity says you are the problem, and Jesus is the solution. Paul is talking about the righteousness of God. God is the righteous one. Something needs to be done between you and God to make you right with God. You don’t do it. Jesus does. When Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished,” He didn’t say, I need you to do some things. What He said was I’ve done everything that needs to be done. I’ve lived and died for your sin.

Today’s Reflection

Why do people often feel the need to add their righteousness to Jesus’ righteousness?