Not of Ourselves

 “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

(Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Our tendency is to think of ourselves as good people. Our tendency is to believe that we can do good. And our tendency is to believe that we can make ourselves worthy of God’s blessings.

The Law of God, however, reveals that we are not good. It reveals that we’re inherently sinful. It makes clear that our actions, as well as our thoughts and intentions, are wicked and corrupt.

It reveals also the punishment we deserve. It reveals that we deserve death. And, more than that, it reveals that we deserve hell.

It reveals to us, finally, that there’s nothing we can do to change our circumstances. We cannot do anything to make up for our sins. Nor can we pay the penalty of our sins in any way other than suffering the condemnation we deserve.

In the gospel, however, the righteousness of God is revealed. This is what Paul is discussing in the above verse. This, however, isn’t speaking of the righteous nature of God, in contrast to our sinful nature.

In the gospel, the righteousness by which we are saved is revealed. And this righteousness is not our own. It’s not something that we generate or produce in any way.

The righteousness, revealed by the gospel, is that which is provided to us by God. It’s that which is produced by God. It is the righteousness of Christ, made available to us by his death and resurrection.

We refer to this as an imputed righteousness. It’s a righteousness, which comes from outside of ourselves, that is ascribed to us. It’s a righteousness, which comes from outside of ourselves, which is accredited to us.

When Jesus died on the cross, he died not for any sin of his own. He was completely innocent. He was without sin.

The sin for which he died is our own. He took upon himself that guilt of our sin, as well as the punishment that we deserve. And, in this way, his righteousness is made available to us.

This righteousness, then, is received by faith. As we believe in Jesus, we receive his righteousness. As we trust in his saving work, we receive his righteousness.

This righteousness, then, is revealed to us by the gospel. It’s revealed from faith and for faith, Paul says. It is based on faith, and it is received by faith.

The righteous, he reminds us, will live by faith. We receive life from faith. And we receive salvation from faith.

Although this seems deep, the point is very simple. The righteousness, by which we are saved, is revealed to us in the gospel. And this righteousness is not our own. It’s something provided to us by God that we receive by faith in Christ.