Everything In Christ - Chapter Four
One of the most important questions a believer must understand is this: On what basis can a human being stand confidently before a holy God?
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This question goes beyond religious activities, personal achievements, good behaviour, or the ability to maintain a respectable public image. It concerns the very foundation of humanity's relationship with God.
Many people associate righteousness exclusively with living a morally upright life. They understand a righteous person as someone who avoids wrongdoing, tells the truth, treats others fairly, and maintains good personal conduct. These qualities are important, and Scripture certainly calls believers to demonstrate them. However, biblical righteousness involves something deeper than outward behaviour.
It also concerns a person's standing before God.
The good news of the gospel is that God has provided righteousness through Jesus Christ. This means that believers do not have to establish their acceptance before God through an endless effort to become perfect. They receive a new standing through faith in Christ and are called to live in a manner consistent with that gift.
Understanding this truth is essential to discovering everything God has provided through His Son.
THE HUMAN STRUGGLE TO ESTABLISH RIGHTEOUSNESS
Throughout history, humanity has struggled with the problem of sin and the desire to establish a satisfactory relationship with God.
People have attempted to achieve this through religious activities, moral discipline, charitable works, personal sacrifices, and strict observance of religious regulations.
Although some of these activities may have genuine value, none can independently remove the problem of sin or establish a perfect standing before God.
Romans 3:10 declares that there is none righteous, no, not one. Romans 3:23 further explains that all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory.
These passages expose the universal nature of humanity's problem.
The difficulty is not simply that some people behave badly while others behave well. The deeper issue is that every human being has fallen short of God's perfect standard.
Consider two individuals.
The first person is widely respected for generosity, honesty, and kindness. The second has a history of dishonesty, selfishness, and irresponsible behaviour.
Although their outward conduct differs considerably, neither person can claim to have earned salvation through personal achievement.
The first person cannot purchase righteousness through good works, while the second cannot make past wrongdoing disappear through personal determination.
Both need God's provision through Christ.
This is why the gospel is good news. It announces that God has provided what humanity could not achieve independently.
GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS IS REVEALED THROUGH CHRIST
Romans 1:16–17 describes the gospel as the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes and explains that the righteousness of God is revealed in it.
This introduces a fundamental truth: righteousness is not merely a human accomplishment. God has revealed a way for sinners to be justified through faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:21–22 explains that God's righteousness has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets testify to it, and that this righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
The significance of this passage is that God does not require sinners to establish their own perfect righteousness before they can receive His gift.
Instead, He provides justification through Christ.
Justification is God's declaration that a person who believes in Jesus Christ is righteous before Him on the basis of Christ's redemptive work.
This does not mean that God pretends sin never existed. It means that the demands of justice concerning sin have been addressed through the sacrifice of Jesus.
Romans 5:18–19 connects Christ's obedience with the justification and righteous standing made available to those who receive Him.
Jesus accomplished what humanity could not accomplish through personal effort.
THE MEANING OF THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Romans 5:17 contains a remarkable statement about those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ.
Notice that righteousness is described as a gift.
A gift is something received, not something purchased through personal achievement.
This distinction changes how believers understand their relationship with God.
If righteousness could be earned through human performance, people would naturally compare themselves with one another. Those who considered themselves morally superior might become proud, while those who recognized their weaknesses might become discouraged.
However, when righteousness is understood as God's gift through Christ, boasting loses its foundation.
No believer can claim to have established a perfect standing before God independently.
This truth should produce humility and gratitude.
Consider someone who has recently become a Christian after years of destructive behaviour. The person may feel that a respectable Christian life is beyond reach because of the past.
Another individual may have grown up in a Christian environment, maintained a good reputation, and become familiar with religious activities. That person may assume that these experiences automatically establish acceptance before God.
Both need to understand the same truth: righteousness is received through faith in Jesus Christ, not inherited through a religious background or achieved through personal reputation.
The foundation is Christ.
RIGHTEOUSNESS IS DIFFERENT FROM SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS
It is important to distinguish the righteousness God provides from the self-righteousness that can develop through religious pride.
Self-righteousness occurs when people place excessive confidence in their own goodness, religious achievements, or outward performance.
Jesus addressed this attitude in Luke 18:9–14 through the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.
The Pharisee stood confidently and listed his religious activities, comparing himself favourably with others. The tax collector, however, recognized his need for God's mercy and asked for forgiveness.
Jesus explained that the tax collector went home justified rather than the Pharisee.
The lesson is significant.
Religious activity does not give anyone the right to look down on others or claim superiority before God.
A person can be active in church, familiar with Scripture, committed to fasting, and regular in prayer while still struggling with pride.
The righteousness that comes through Christ should produce humility rather than arrogance.
When believers understand that their standing before God depends on His grace, they become less interested in proving their superiority and more committed to expressing gratitude through their conduct.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH?
Justification is central to understanding the believer's new standing before God.
Romans 5:1 explains that believers, having been justified by faith, have peace with God through Jesus Christ.
This statement connects faith, justification, and reconciliation.
To be justified means to be declared righteous before God. It is a judicial concept that describes a change in the believer's standing.
The believer is no longer approaching God on the basis of personal merit but on the basis of what Jesus Christ has accomplished.
This is important because human performance is imperfect and inconsistent.
Even sincere Christians can make mistakes, experience moments of weakness, and struggle with areas that require spiritual growth.
If acceptance depended entirely on maintaining flawless personal performance, no human being could confidently approach God.
However, justification through faith establishes a different foundation.
Consider a believer who has genuinely received Christ but struggles with a particular temptation. The individual recognizes the wrongdoing, repents, seeks God's help, and takes practical steps to avoid repeating it.
Understanding justification helps that believer distinguish between the need for correction and the fear of losing every basis for approaching God.
The person should not use grace as an excuse to continue sinning. Rather, the assurance of acceptance in Christ should encourage sincere repentance and continued spiritual growth.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND RIGHTEOUS LIVING
One of the most important distinctions in this subject is the difference between being declared righteous through Christ and practising righteousness in everyday life.
These realities are connected, but they should not be confused.
A believer receives a righteous standing through faith in Christ. However, the believer must continue developing a lifestyle that reflects God's character.
In other words, righteous conduct is not the price paid to receive salvation. It is an appropriate expression of the new life received through salvation.
Ephesians 2:8–10 explains this relationship. Salvation is by grace through faith, not by works, yet believers are created in Christ Jesus for good works.
This order must remain clear.
Good works do not purchase the gift of righteousness. Instead, genuine faith should increasingly produce good works.
For example, imagine a business owner who has received Christ but previously practised dishonest accounting.
Understanding righteousness should influence the person's business decisions. The owner should begin maintaining accurate records, paying legitimate obligations, treating employees fairly, and refusing to deceive customers.
These actions do not purchase acceptance before God. They demonstrate the practical influence of a faith that is becoming visible through conduct.
Similarly, a believer who understands God's righteousness should not deliberately practise cruelty, dishonesty, exploitation, or injustice while claiming that grace makes behaviour irrelevant.
Romans 6:1–2 directly addresses the idea of continuing in sin so that grace may increase. Paul rejects that conclusion.
Grace is not permission to remain under the control of the very sin from which Christ came to redeem humanity.
WHY BELIEVERS SOMETIMES STRUGGLE WITH THEIR RIGHTEOUSNESS
Despite the significance of God's provision, some Christians continue to struggle with feelings of unworthiness.
Several factors may contribute to this experience.
First, they may continue judging their relationship with God exclusively through their performance.
Whenever they succeed in maintaining a spiritual routine, they feel accepted. Whenever they fail, they assume that God has completely withdrawn His favour.
This creates an unstable understanding of grace.
Second, some believers confuse conviction with condemnation.
The Holy Spirit works in believers to guide them toward truth and godly living. When someone recognizes wrongdoing, the appropriate response is repentance and correction.
However, condemnation can produce a persistent belief that restoration is impossible.
Romans 8:33–34 directs attention to God's justification and Christ's intercession. These truths provide confidence that the believer's standing is established through God's work rather than human accusations.
Third, people sometimes allow their past to become more influential than the gospel.
A person who previously lived irresponsibly may struggle to accept that forgiveness and a new standing before God are genuinely available.
However, the message of redemption is not that only people with respectable histories can receive Christ. It is that sinners can be reconciled to God through Him.
The story of the apostle Paul provides a powerful example.
Before his conversion, Paul persecuted the early Christian community. Yet, after encountering Christ, he became a significant messenger of the gospel.
His past was real, and he did not pretend otherwise. However, it did not prevent God's grace from transforming his life and giving him a new purpose.
This demonstrates that God's provision is greater than the history of those who genuinely come to Him.
RIGHTEOUSNESS GIVES BELIEVERS CONFIDENCE BEFORE GOD
Understanding the gift of righteousness changes the way believers approach God.
Hebrews 4:16 encourages believers to approach the throne of grace with confidence so that they may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
This confidence does not come from believing that personal behaviour is always perfect. It comes from understanding the access Christ has made available.
A believer facing a difficult decision, personal weakness, family challenges, or emotional distress does not need to approach God as though every struggle has cancelled the relationship established through Christ.
Instead, the believer can seek God's mercy, wisdom, and strength with confidence.
Consider someone who has made a serious financial mistake. The person may have acted carelessly, accumulated unnecessary debt, or entered into an agreement without proper understanding.
A healthy response involves acknowledging the mistake, seeking wise advice, developing a responsible repayment plan, and learning from the experience.
At the same time, the individual can pray for wisdom and strength without assuming that personal failure has made approaching God impossible.
The gift of righteousness encourages confidence, while spiritual maturity encourages responsibility.
RIGHTEOUSNESS AND YOUR RESPONSE TO OTHER PEOPLE
Understanding righteousness should also influence how believers treat others.
A person who recognizes that God's acceptance is received through grace should become more patient with people who are growing, learning, and overcoming weaknesses.
This does not mean ignoring wrongdoing or abandoning necessary correction.
Rather, it means avoiding the attitude of superiority that often develops when people believe their religious performance makes them better than everyone else.
Colossians 3:12–14 encourages believers to demonstrate compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love.
These qualities should become visible in everyday relationships.
For example, a Christian employer who understands grace should not humiliate an employee who makes an honest mistake. The employer can correct the error, establish accountability, and still treat the individual with dignity.
A Christian parent should correct a child without using shame and rejection as instruments of discipline.
A believer experiencing disagreement should pursue truth without allowing pride or hostility to control the conversation.
Righteousness received through Christ should influence the character believers demonstrate toward other people.
THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND THE POWER TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY
God's provision does not end with a declaration of a new standing before Him. The Christian life also involves transformation through the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:3–4 explains that God sent His Son to deal with sin and that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in those who walk according to the Spirit rather than according to the flesh.
This passage connects Christ's redemptive work with the believer's transformed life.
The Holy Spirit helps believers develop the character that reflects God's will.
Galatians 5:22–23 identifies the fruit of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
These qualities are important because they show that righteousness is not intended to remain an abstract religious concept.
It should influence how believers respond to temptation, manage their emotions, handle responsibilities, and relate to others.
Imagine someone who previously responded to disagreement with aggressive language. After receiving Christ, the individual begins learning to control anger, listen carefully, and communicate respectfully.
The transformation may require time and conscious effort. However, the believer is no longer expected to depend exclusively on natural temperament or personal determination.
God has provided the Holy Spirit to help believers live according to His purpose.
This is another reason everything in Christ must be understood as a complete provision for both spiritual standing and godly living.
CONCLUSION
The gift of righteousness is one of the most remarkable expressions of God's grace.
Human beings cannot establish a perfect standing before God through personal achievements, religious activities, or moral reputation. Through Jesus Christ, however, God has provided righteousness as a gift to those who believe.
Romans 5:17 reveals the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness available through Christ, while Romans 5:1 explains that justification by faith brings peace with God.
This truth changes the believer's understanding of acceptance, forgiveness, confidence, and spiritual responsibility.
However, receiving righteousness must not be confused with permission to live carelessly. The new standing believers receive through Christ should increasingly influence their conduct.
They are called to practise honesty, demonstrate love, reject sin, exercise self-control, forgive others, and pursue a life that reflects God's character.
The important distinction is this: believers do not live righteously to purchase God's acceptance; they pursue righteous living because they have received His grace through Christ.
When this truth becomes firmly established, believers can move away from the endless attempt to earn what God has provided and begin living with gratitude, confidence, humility, and responsibility.
God has provided righteousness through His Son. Understanding this gift is essential to understanding everything in Christ.
PRACTICAL REFLECTION
Examine the foundation upon which you approach God.
Do you believe that His acceptance must be earned through your daily performance, or do you understand that your justification comes through faith in Jesus Christ?
Identify one area of your life where you need to distinguish between your standing before God and your responsibility to grow in godly conduct.
If you have made a mistake, acknowledge it, repent where necessary, and take practical steps toward correction. Do not allow guilt to become a permanent substitute for the forgiveness God offers through Christ.
Also, examine how your understanding of grace influences your treatment of other people. Are you becoming more patient, humble, truthful, and forgiving?
Remember that the gift of righteousness should produce gratitude toward God and a growing commitment to live according to His Word.
KEY SCRIPTURES FOR FURTHER STUDY
Romans 1:16–17; Romans 3:10–26; Romans 5:1–21; Romans 6:1–14; Romans 8:1–4; Luke 18:9–14; 2 Corinthians 5:17–21; Ephesians 2:8–10; Galatians 5:22–23; Colossians 3:12–14; Hebrews 4:14–16.
Stay tuned for Chapter Five by 8.a.m tomorrow
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