Praying personWhat comes to mind when you think of a righteous person?  We usually think of someone who is characterized by uprightness or morality.  We often evaluate righteousness by one’s external actions but Jesus goes much deeper than that – He goes to the heart. 

The religious rulers of Jesus’ day, the scribes and the Pharisees, were considered the spiritually elite.  Jesus shocked His listeners as He said,

For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.  (Matthew 5:20)

I’m sure His listeners were wondering, “How can I surpass the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees?”  The truth is that none of us can be truly righteous in our own strength – but God can make us righteous.  The Apostle Paul gives us the answer in his letter to the Romans,

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”  (Romans 1:17)

This is a quotation from the Old Testament (Habakkuk 2:4).  We achieve  righteousness before God not through our performance, but through faith.  Paul continues on in his epistle and presents the example of Abraham,

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”  (Romans 4:2-3)

The word “righteous” conveys the idea of being justified before God.  The verb form of the Greek word for righteous is translated as “justified” and could be translated as “declared righteous”,

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  (Romans 5:1)

Are you experiencing peace with God?  If not, perhaps it’s because you’re seeking God’s acceptance through your performance.  The good news is that you are made righteous not through your performance, but through what Jesus has already done on your behalf.  Paul summarizes that truth in his message to the Corinthians,

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Charles Wesley eloquently captures the truth of our redemption in his hymn, And Can It Be That I Should Gain,

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain-
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Chorus:
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace-
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray-
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Don’t let the enemy keep you from appropriating these powerful truths.  Live out your true identity as a child of God – live as a righteous person.  As Mark Twain observed, “This will surprise some people and astonish the rest.”

RickAssociate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

Follow me on twitter:  rickhiggins5