WILL I EVER BE RIGHTEOUS?

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. (1 Peter 3:12 ESV)

The God of the Bible is righteous and takes sin so seriously that our own efforts cannot erase the guilt of our iniquity. Yet, through the atoning work of Jesus Christ, God has forgiven our sins that we may participate in His righteousness. In Christ, we see the righteousness of the invisible God lived out in human conduct and character. Righteousness is the fruit of a life in Christ.

Only through faith in Jesus Christ do we become the beneficiaries of salvation and receive the imputation of Christ’s righteousness. The Holy Spirit changes the natural inclination of our hearts giving us the desire to live a life pleasing to God. We were creatures of darkness, but we have been called by faith to walk in the light. Jesus said:

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12 ESV)

Through faith, we are freed from God’s wrath. Faith is the instrument by which we are declared righteous. Jesus Christ is the foundation of that righteousness. We receive this blessing through faith in Him. By the saving belief in Jesus Christ, we receive from God an imputed righteousness which is unmerited by any good works we could perform.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV)