Romans 1:[16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
[17] For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
The righteousness of God is revealed by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. The Old Testament teaches us that sin carries a wage or penalty and the New Testament teaches us Jesus, Who had no sin, paid the price for everyone’s sin thereby, revealing to us the righteousness of God. Because God is righteous there has to be a payment for sin so He provided a payment through the perfect life and sinless death of Jesus. Through the shedding of the innocent blood of our Savior the debt our sin created was met.
Turn to Romans chapter three where we find:
Rom.3:[22] Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
[23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
[24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
[25] Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
[26] To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
This righteousness is available to ALL men but ONLY those who put their faith in it receive it! To be born again one must put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. The payment is of no effect for those who refuse to believe.
Turn to Romans chapter five:
Rom.5:[18] Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
[19] For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
[20] Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
[21] That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
It is through the righteousness of Jesus Christ and His sinless life we obtain justification. Through His death and Resurrection we who put our faith in Him receive life eternal instead of death.
In Second Corinthians five we find:
2Cor.5:20] Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
[21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
We who have put our faith in Him are now representatives to a lost and dying world to show them the power and love of God through our lives.
Let’s turn to the book of Philippians chapter three:
Phil.3:8] Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
[9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
It does not matter how moral a life a man might live he still has sinned. We have no righteousness of our own merit because we have violated the law of God. It is through faith in the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ that God gives me His righteousness. When I allow the Holy Spirit to control my thoughts, words and deeds it is then I may show His righteousness to those around me.
Turn to Romans chapter ten:
Rom.10:[12] For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
[13] For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
This righteousness is for everyone but ONLY for those who call upon Him. How about you this morning? Are you counting on your own works to save you? Are you counting the fact you go to church to save you? Are you counting on the fact your parents were Christians?
The only way to receive the righteousness God has provided is by calling on Him and placing your faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ and believing in the Resurrection.