Rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Part 51

 Rightly dividing the Word of truth.

This is part 51 in a series of 53 articles about RIGHTLY DIVIDING GOD’S WORD OF TRUTH. All scripture quoted will be from the King James Bible.

In part 51, we continue discussing Christ righteousness for our salvation.

In the last paragraph, in part 50, I was talking about how God looks at our righteousness. We all need the righteousness of God to enter heaven.  According to Revelation 3:17, our personal righteousness without Christ is so void of intrinsic valve that the scriptures call those who are yet unsaved poor, naked, miserable, wretched, and blind. It is an offense to God to attempt to offer our own righteousness before Him. No man will ever glory in his own righteousness before God’s presence, 1 Corinthians 1:29-30.

God does not consider righteous works any longer, even if they are done in zeal, obedience to the law, sincerity, and love toward God. God accepts only those who have the righteousness of Christ.

In Romans 10:2-3, God says some have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge: “They have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

Remember, it’s not about law keeping anymore! “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth,” Romans 10:4.

This is why Paul says he wants to be found in Christ not having his own righteousness. He wanted the righteousness that could only come through the faith of Christ, Philippians 3:9: “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”

Christ is not only the provision for our sins; He is the provision for righteousness.

“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ…” Romans 3:21-22.

The gospel we preach is that Christ died for your sins, and that he is also the righteousness of all that believe. Christ died for ours sins and rose again for our righteous standing, Romans 4:24-25. Your righteousness works never enter the picture. Christ is our righteousness.

If your salvation testimony includes declaring what you did after Christ did his part, you are declaring your own righteousness, and you do not understand the gospel of Christ. Trust Christ to be everything you need to be saved, your forgiveness, your sanctification, your redemption, and your righteousness.

“To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus,” Romans 3:26.Christ does all the saving, we do all the believing!    ——–       To be continu