THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD

Mark Warda

Woodland Church

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

“For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike. So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News. For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”  (Romans 1:14-17, NLT)

Righteous

Merriam Webster’s Dictionary

1. acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin.

Oxford English Dictionary

1. (of a person or conduct) morally right or justifiable; virtuous.

Nelson Bible Dictionary

“Holy and upright living, in accordance with God’s standard.”

The words “righteousness” and “justice” come from the same root word that means “straightness.”

It refers to a state that conforms to an authoritative standard.

The Good News of Jesus is for Everyone!

“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”  (John 1:23, ESV)

Jesus is faithful to keep His covenant, our response is to have faith in Jesus.

This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” (Romans 1:17, NLT)

Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again.

Being made “right in God’s sight” is what we mean by justification.

“Justified” means is “just if I’d” never sinned.

That’s what Jesus did on the cross.  He died in our place.

The Hebrew court system has only three parties: Judge, Plaintiff, and Defendant.

The judge is impartial.

To the wrongdoer, he sentences punishment.

To the one in whom he finds favor, he declares “righteous,” not “morally good,” but given the status of “being in the right.”

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”

(Romans 3:23, NLT)

“[Jesus] said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”  (John 19:30, NLT)

The Greek word tetelestai can mean not only “It is accomplished,” but also, “Paid in full.”

I owed a debt I could not pay; He paid a debt He did not owe

I needed someone to wash my sins away.

And now I sing a brand new song, “Amazing Grace”

Christ Jesus paid the debt that I could never pay.

“the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.”  (Romans 3:22-25, NLT)

Because Jesus lived a perfect sinless life, when we, by faith, accept Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross, God the Father doesn’t see us in light of our sin. Instead, God the righteous Judge, sees Jesus in light of the cross.

Because Jesus died for all people, all people need to hear the Good News.