This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24 NIV
The righteousness of God is His perfect moral character, justice, holiness and faithfulness, revealed in His actions, laws, and provision of salvation through Jesus Christ. Everything God does is right. All His decisions are perfect. All his actions are just and fair.
It is written:
I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. Deuteronomy 32:3-4 NIV
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. Psalm 145:17 NIV
The Lord is perfect, and all His ways are perfect. His justice and kindness are declared in His Word and demonstrated in His works. His love was on display as He sent Jesus to Calvary to die for our salvation. We are blessed to have a loving, just, kind and righteous God to rule over all! He is good and He is sovereign.
God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Romans 3:25-26 NIV
Since the fall of man in the garden, all people are born in sin, separated from God with no way to bridge the gap. To exhibit His love for His creation, God sent His son to redeem us. God didn’t create man separate from Himself. Our broken relationship with God is a result of our disobedience. But here’s the good news. Through Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice, the perfect unblemished lamb, tour sins can be forgiven. Thanks to Jesus, our relationship with the Father can be restored! He provides a way for us to be righteous. His shed blood atones for our sins and when we express faith in Him, we are declared righteous! We serve a God who is just, kind, and righteous. In Christ Jesus, we become righteous! How great is our God!
Righteousness is an attribute that belongs to God, the lawgiver, and is manifested in His laws. No man can be justified by his own works apart from God’s ordinance. Therefore, righteousness is a wonderful gift from God to humanity through His love. It is the God-given quality imputed to man upon believing in the Son of God-Christ Jesus.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV
We are on this earth for two reasons: to glorify God and to serve God.
Remember always to love one another.
Barnabas
Special thanks to Barnabas for this guest submission.