Righteousness is a gift and a position in Christ Jesus. It is a right-standing with God. It is not something we “do” to get. A gift is meant to be received. It is not earned by doing good—that is a reward and is based on self effort.
As a Believer of Christ (a Christian) we were created to do good works and will be rewarded in eternity for what we do with the Gospel while we are on the earth, but those works don’t make us in right relationship with God. Rather, it is all because of Jesus’ obedience in His death, burial and resurrection that we get what He deserves, when we make Him our Lord & Savior. When one chooses to accept the unconditional love, mercy and grace of God through His Son, Jesus Christ, he/she is instantly made right with God and receives an amazing “benefits package,” called salvation.
“Salvation” does not just mean one’s sins are forgiven and they are saved from hell and going to heaven someday. While that is a part of its meaning, there is so much more. Salvation is the Greek word: Sozo. It means forgiveness of sins, physical and emotional healing, to be made whole, safety, protection, deliverance, prosperity, to be saved.
God is so good! When you to stop trying to earn something you have already been given, you will relate to God and others differently. Receive His gift of righteousness, be thankful and walk in relationship with Him. Your life will be transformed when you change the way you think to line up with God’s Word. (Romans 12:2)
Lori Snyder
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Romans 5:17 (NKJV) “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”
Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV) “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”