“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. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith”. – Romans 1:16-17
LIGHT FOR NOW: In the gospel of Christ, we have the revelation of God’s righteousness.
Paul says “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation”. And goes further to say “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed…” In essence, in the gospel of Christ, we have the revelation of God’s righteousness. Man, therefore, will not understand or comprehend God’s righteousness outside the gospel of Christ. The question to ask now is: What is righteousness? Righteousness means to have a right standing with God. It is also the ability to stand before God, man, or the devil without any sense of guilt or inferiority complex. The first mention of the word in the epistles is seen in the book of Romans in our key text above (Romans 1:16-17). Again, from Romans 1:16-17, the term “righteousness” is closely associated with the gospel of Christ. A good understanding of the gospel will unveil righteousness to us. The gospel in the context of this verse refers to the good news concerning the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins, as seen in the previous verses.
Romans 1:1-4 “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead”. The sacrifice of Jesus is seen in what he allowed. The third verse spoke about his incarnation, how that God became a man, his humanity, and death all for our sins. Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. This is in tandem with the prophecies of the prophets as penned down by Peter. 1Peter 1:10-11 “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow”. The glory that should follow includes his resurrection, and it is on this premise of his resurrection (life) that our righteousness is based. Righteousness, which is access to God, is through the life of Christ. Glory!
INSTRUCTION: Declare your status in Christ – You are God’s righteousness.
CONFESSION: I have a right standing with God based on the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus. My righteousness is based on his life, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
QUOTE: Be more righteous conscious than sin conscious because righteousness is your status.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: ROMANS CHAPTER 1; EVENING: ROMANS CHAPTER 2
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 