Bible Reading: Psalm 85-87; Romans 9.
Memory Verse: “What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.” Romans 9:30 (KJV)
Righteousness is defined by the American Dictionary as the purity of heart and rectitude of life. A conformity of heart and life to the divine law. It includes all we call justice, honesty and virtue, with holy affections; in short, it is true religion.
Faith is also defined by the same dictionary as the assent of the mind to the truth of divine revelation, on the authority of God’s testimony, accompanied with a cordial assent of the will or approbation of the heart, an entire confidence or trust in God’s character and declarations and in the character and doctrines of Christ, with an unreserved surrender of the will to his guidance, and dependence on his merits for salvation. This is well summarized in Hebrews 11:1 (KJV), “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
God’s laws as stated in the Old Testament are so many that it’s impossible for man to attain perfect righteousness based on them as compliance with all the laws is too onerous for any man to fulfill. That is why Apostle Paul stated that even the Israelites that followed the law had not attained it. Romans 9:31 (KJV) says, “But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.”
How then can one attain righteousness? Apostle Paul stated that it is not by works (by trying to fulfill the law) but by faith in Christ. When you repent of your sins and believe in Christ, it is counted for righteousness. Apostle Paul stated this in Galatians 2:16 (KJV), “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
Righteousness by faith therefore means having faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour and such faith makes you righteous as no flesh can attain righteousness by obedience to the law. Thus, the Israelites by flesh did not attain righteousness by their obedience to the law but the gentiles (who are Israelites by faith) have so attained! Apostle Paul stated this in Romans 9:30 (KJV), “What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith”
Action point:
To attain righteousness, you need to repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero