Sermon Central
-
Christ Our Righteousness
Contributed by Albert Corey on Dec 4, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: Because of the finished work of Jesus Christ, we have righteousness
“CHRIST OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS”
1. Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.
2. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
3. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.
4. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
8. But indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9. and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
10. that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
INTRODUCTION:
What comes to mind when I say the word Righteousness?
The dictionary defines it this way: “Conforming to a standard of right and justice; virtuous. The act of being morally right”
(Funk & Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary, Volume 2, N-Z, p. 574).
But how does God define righteousness? The matter of righteousness is what this Bible is all about. It is what Calvary and the Cross are all about. It is what the Church and Christian religion are all about. What is Righteousness?
According to God’s Word, righteousness is bringing people by to God’s
standard of righteousness. The Chinese character for "righteousness"
is most interesting. It is composed of two separate characters - one
standing for a lamb, the other for me. When "lamb" is placed directly
above "me," a new character - "righteousness" is formed. This is a
helpful picture of the grace of God. Between me, the sinner, and God,
the Holy One, there is interposed by faith the Lamb of God. By virtue
of his sacrifice he has received me on the ground of faith, and I have
become righteous in his sight.
How are we brought up to God’s standard of righteousness? By faith
in His Son, Jesus.
21. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22. even the righteousness of God which is through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
23. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24. being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
25. whom God set forth to be a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
26. to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
The apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:7-9
7. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
8. But indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9. and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
That knowing Christ and be found in HIM was what mattered: “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 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, And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” The only way you or I may enter Heaven is through the
righteousness of Christ. What does it profit us to gain all this life has to offer and have not the righteousness of Christ put to our account?
NOTHING! Our Lord Jesus asked in
36. "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
37. "Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
