Righteousness

  • Rome’s Analytic View of Justification

    Romans 1:16–17

    Roman Catholics and Protestants differ on several fundamental matters, not the least of which is the doctrine of justification. It is essential that we do not blur the lines on this issue, for the very gospel is at stake. We ...Read More

  • Repenting of Our Righteousness

    Isaiah 64:6

    Today’s passage reminds us that God does not grade on a curve. We may consider ourselves better than others on a human level when we evaluate ourselves by imperfect human standards of justice, but the Lord evaluates us by ...Read More

  • Christ Our Righteousness

    1 Corinthians 1:30–31

    Jesus is the only human being who has ever had perfect faith in God. The faith the Lord demands from us is real faith, not perfect faith, and faith can be real even if it is imperfect. Still, we are ...Read More

  • Righteousness and Life

    John 3:36

    When we believe in Jesus alone, we are immediately granted the gift of eternal life. There is nothing else we need to do in order to receive this life, and if we think that we must do good works in ...Read More

  • The Imitation of Christ

    Ephesians 5:1

    The Apostle Paul’s teaching on our sanctification is ultimately a call to the imitation of Christ (1 Cor. 11:1). Therefore, we should pay close attention to the words and actions of Jesus if we want to understand what ...Read More

  • Our Living Hope

    1 Peter 1:3-5

    Jesus’ death is not significant because He was a good man who died but because He was a perfect man who died and rose again. The resurrection is certain proof that death has no rightful claim on those who obey ...Read More

  • The Living God’s Righteous Hands

    Hebrews 10:30–31

    When talking to unbelievers, we can point out that Christianity alone believes in God’s justice and holy hatred of sin. As long as the adherents of other faiths maintain that our good works can make up for sin and ...Read More

  • The Righteousness of God by Faith

    Philippians 3:7–9

    Not all of us tried to earn our way to God by the Mosaic law before knowing Christ. Probably, most of us just sought to do the good we could, hoping it would outweigh our bad deeds. Regardless, we had ...Read More

  • A Hunger for Righteousness

    Matthew 5:6

    Jesus’ life illustrates the kind of passion for righteousness that all the people of God are to emulate. He said that His food was “to do the will of [God]” (John 4:34). For Christ, His very survival depended on ...Read More

  • Ruth’s Righteous Husband

    Ruth 4

    Boaz was ultimately rewarded for his selfless deed when he was included in the line of David and thus the line of Christ (Matt. 1:1–17). He did not know that this would be his reward when he cared ...Read More

  • The Dreamer

    Genesis 37

    The jealousy of Joseph’s brothers — exacerbated by Jacob’s favoritism — led to their selling him into slavery and subsequent lies that a wild animal had killed him. Though we cannot blame their sin on Jacob, the story does illustrate ...Read More

  • Suffering for Righteousness

    If you are suffering, reflect on these questions: Is it because of your own bad decisions? Is it because of your circumstances? Are you suffering for righteousness’ sake or is your suffering self-inflicted? Read More

  • Entering into Mystical Union

    Thank God for your salvation, His righteousness, and His atonement for your sins.Read More

  • Bearing Spiritual Fruit

    Prayerfully examine your faith and spiritual fruit. Read More

  • Inheritance by the Promise

    Galatians 3:17–18

    Ephesians 1:13–14 says the Holy Spirit is the “guarantee” of our inheritance. When Jesus returns to usher in the new heavens and earth (Rev. 21), the promises to Abraham will reach their consummation as we are blessed with ...Read More