RIGHTEOUSNESS REVEALED....

“For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed…” Romans 1:17
Those of you who either read “The Chronicles of Narnia,” by C.S. Lewis, or saw the film, will know that the way into Narnia was through the wardrobe. Upon entrance, there was a disclosure of what before had been unknown. Once the land of Narnia was discovered, the young girl, Lucy desired her siblings to join her, but she was met with skepticism. However, over time, one by one, her brothers and eldest sister entered through the wardrobe and into this new land.

The above scripture refers to the gospel where righteousness from God is revealed. The gospel is from old English roots meaning "good news". The Gospel is the heart of the Christian message: that Christ died for us, and that through him we can be reconciled to God and live in communion with him forever and ever. This good news is veiled to those who choose to ignore it, just like the wardrobe that led to Narnia, but to those who are curious; those who come like little children (Mark 10:14-16) such as in the Chronicles of Narnia and dare to uncover the secrets of God’s kingdom….. will discover God’s Righteousness - his integrity, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking, feeling, and acting.

You will never find God’s righteousness in the world‘s system. The world lives by its own standards, even making them up as they go along. The last verse in the book of Judges says, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit” (Judges 21:25). Does this sound familiar? Everyone who has “no king” will do as they see fit. They will live their lives unto themselves and not unto God. But those of us who have been exposed to the Good News and have received it by faith can now acknowledge Jesus as our Savior, our Lord and our King. We have discovered that there’s a better way to live - a righteous way. We recognize that there is nothing good in ourselves and we are drawn to the Righteous One, Jesus Christ.

Get the news… the Good News and read all about it…

DEMONSTRATING RIGHTEOUSNESS.....

What’s your response to injustice, especially when it affects you personally? Do you take matters into your own hands or do you entrust the situation to the Lord?


In the book of 1 Samuel, we read of a young man named David who was anointed to be King of Israel. While awaiting God's timing for the Kingship, he was being pursued by the reigning King Saul who had become jealous of David and desired to kill him.


One day, it seemed a perfect opportunity had come to David. He could have taken Saul’s spear and plunged it into Saul putting an end to this never-ending chase (1 Sam.26). He would have been justified in doing so by those in his company, yet David, a man after God’s own heart knew that God would deal with Saul. Perhaps God Himself would strike him or he would die in battle (1Sam.26:10). David knew he must respond to Saul in a way that would honor God. He had to be a man of restraint in this battle, unlike the previous battles with lions, bears, and a giant named Goliath. In those battles, God gave the perpetrator into David’s hand for their demise.

This battle was different. It gave opportunity for David to mature in his trust level with God. This time, he would walk away. He would make room for God’s deliverance in God‘s ways and timing. David even proclaimed to Saul his belief that God would reward him for the mercy he had shown him. One day, God did reward him with the promised Kingship.

God not only credits us with RIGHTEOUSNESS for our belief in Him like the Patriarch Abraham, but He will reward us for demonstrating His RIGHTEOUSNESS to others as David did.

1 Samuel 26:23 “The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness…”

THE GIFT OF RIGHEOUSNESS - MEANT TO BE RECEIVED~NOT EARNED

This being the Christmas season, let’s fast forward to Christmas morning… You’ve been given several gifts to open, but before you unwrap one, you get out your checkbook and insist on paying the giver whatever value the gift holds. Ludicrous? This is the way we treat God when we try to earn “Righteousness” which is right standing with a Holy God.

“Abram believed the Lord, and he (God) credited it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Because Abraham simply “BELIEVED” in God and His promises to him, God declared that Abram, later changed to Abraham was in right standing (RIGHTEOUS) before Him. He never asked Abraham to DO anything to be right with Him. Does that surprise you?

Today, many people feel they have to DO righteous acts in order to achieve God‘s RIGHTEOUSNESS. Some of those acts might be -- to be a faithful attendee to a place of Worship or a consistent giver of money to God’s work. Everything we DO should be a result or fruit of our faith in a God who is, and who was, and who is to come… (Revelation 1:4) and not a prerequisite to obtain Righteousness.

Paul says, in the book of Romans that if works is something to boast about, then he would have had something to boast, but not before God. All of our works do NOT make us RIGHTEOUS (right) before God. If you simply have faith in God, your faith is credited as RIGHTEOUSNESS, a free Gift such as Abraham received. It's that simple!

James, on the other hand talks about a person being justified by what he does and not by faith alone (James 2:23&24). There is no contradiction here between Paul and James. The way to reconcile these statements is that works won’t ever justify us before God, but works or deeds will be a fruit or result of your faith in God.

If you really believe in God and what His Word says to you, then you are walking in faith like Abraham and share with him the Gift of RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Receive today the Gift of Righteousness!


“Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Genesis 15:6