and righteousness from the God of salvation."
Psalm 24:5
A pastor was trying to explain to a man his need to receive Christ. He asked him, "Do you think you will go to heaven when you die?" The man replied, "I think so, because I've tried to live a good life." Then, the pastor asked, "How good do you have to be to go to heaven?" The man said, "I've never thought of it that way. Tell me." The pastor said, "You have to be perfect." The man looked shocked. He said, "Then nobody can go to heaven!" The pastor said, "You're right. No one can go to heaven outside of Christ. We receive His righteousness by faith, and His righteousness is perfect."
Salvation is receiving righteousness from God. It's the gift of God to all who believe. It's true in both the Old and New Testaments. "Now this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD our Righteousness" (Jeremiah 23:6). "Even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference" (Romans 3:22).
We receive the righteousness of God by grace through faith. Our self-righteousness can never please God. "And all our righteousness is like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). We need perfect righteousness before God. It is offered to us by grace as the gift of God. It is received by faith.
"And he [Abraham] believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:6). That same righteousness has been revealed to the world through Jesus Christ. God sent His Son "that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Receive righteousness as the gift of God in Christ.
"And he [Abraham] believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:6). That same righteousness has been revealed to the world through Jesus Christ. God sent His Son "that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Receive righteousness as the gift of God in Christ.
God, we receive Your righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ.
