The Source of Righteousness

 “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

(Romans 10:1–4 ESV)

When it comes to our faith, and when it comes to our desire for salvation, there is a common trap into which we fall. And the reason we fall into it is because it flows from our sinful nature. It is, in fact, our default.

The trap to which I’m referring is that of works righteousness. It’s an attempt to earn or to become deserving of the salvation of God. It’s the belief that we determine our salvation by way of ritual or deed.

This is the basis of every religion practiced in the world today, outside of Christianity. It’s the center of their teaching. And it makes up the core of their practice.

This was also the trap into which the Jews had fallen. As Paul expresses his desire for their salvation, in the passage above, he makes clear the reason they were not. Although they were zealous, he says, they were ignorant of the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own.

The righteousness of God, you see, was freely available to them in Jesus. It had been provided to them by his death and resurrection. And it could be received by faith.

Rather than receive the righteousness of God, however, they sought to secure their own. They sought to enact their own. They sought to achieve their own.

But this led only to their condemnation. It led only to their judgment. It did so because righteousness cannot be attained in this way. It did so because true righteousness is found only in Christ.

This, then, results as we attempt to establish our own righteousness. This is the result when we attempt to gain God’s favor apart from Christ. In that case, we receive only condemnation and judgment.

But, in Christ, this righteousness is received freely. And it’s in no way dependent upon us. It results neither from our nature nor from our accomplishments. 

This, then, fills us with peace. It comforts us with certainty. It enables us to rest in the fact that this righteousness is ours in spite of our deficiencies and failures.