Righteous Through Christ

“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” Philippians 3:8-9.

I’ve been struggling lately with righteousness. I think for a while I felt like being righteous depended on me. And as broken and sinful as I am, I knew there was nothing good about me. I knew that I would never be good enough. I read this verse the other morning and God really comforted me with the truth that righteousness doesn’t come from me, it comes through Christ.

Knowing that I don’t have to do things in my own strength is so comforting because I know I can’t be anything close to righteous on my own. I’m so thankful for Christ’s sacrifice for me and the fact that I can rest in Him and His righteousness. Righteousness is by faith, not works.

“But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, ⁱ 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 3:22-26.

When we start getting into the mindset of striving and trying to earn God’s love, let’s remember that while we will never be able to earn God’s love, He freely gives it to us. Because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins, we are made righteous. We can rest in this comforting truth always. I’m so thankful for that.

-Hannah