Righteousness

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 5:11).

In his book, Overcoming Gossip, Mark D. Michael writes: "Many people gossip about their brothers and sisters in Christ because they don't understand righteousness. They simply don't understand that righteousness is a gift from God to people. They have a legalistic perspective of righteousness. To them, they are righteous [or not] because of the good deeds they do or the bad deeds that they don't do. But righteousness by the law always leaves us feeling either extremely arrogant or totally discouraged depending on how well we are living or with whom we are comparing ourselves."

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).


I find this statement profound, Christ went to the cross because of our inability to be righteous by the law. His sacrifice and death allowed us to trade our unrighteousness for His righteousness when we accept Him as our Savior. None of us can be good enough to keep all the law or to get ourselves into heaven apart from Christ. 

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace (Romans 6:14).

Many know this to be true, but they still don't live their lives like it is. Obedience and righteous living are important, but it should come from our love of God and desire to please him and not from an arrogant pride in ourselves and our ability to be good. Or if the reverse is true, we berate ourselves and feel useless because we realize we continually fail. Live your life under the grace that knowing Christ as your personal Lord and Savior gives. 

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