And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness… Romans 4:5

For the moment, all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:1

Righteousness…a word that is a main theme throughout Scripture but so often misunderstood today. Biblically it can be defined as “integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting”. It can also be said of righteousness that it is the “state of him who is as he ought to be; righteousness is the condition acceptable to God”.

The Bible teaches that righteousness is both the foundation and goal of the Christian life. To put it another way, it is both the gift of faith from God and the fruit of obedience. It is both a gift and fruit and the foundation and goal simultaneously Bible teaches us is that righteousness is both imputed and imparted to the believer.

Imputed righteousness is the great theme of much of Paul’s theology in the book of Romans’ early chapters. Paul argues that our being found to be righteous is punctiliar; that is, it occurred at a definite and particular point of time in the past when we first believed. Paul teaches us that just as Abraham believed God and was declared to be righteous by God, so it is with anyone who puts their faith in Christ today. Because of that faith, Christ’s righteousness…His right standing with God is credited to those who believe as their own. What a wonderful and powerful reality and truth! That’s why I can come to God free of shame, fear or guilt because I come not in my own righteousness (standing), but in Christ’s. This is the foundation of the Christian life in that it allows me to live in freedom as a child of God. What a gift!

But the Bible also teaches us that righteousness must now be worked into the fiber of our lives. That is, though we have been declared righteous by our faith in Jesus, we are now to increasingly actually become righteous in our lives. This is the process of Christ’s righteousness imparted to the believer by the ongoing work of the indwelling Holy Spirit, what the Bible calls sanctification. In the Hebrews text, the writer reminds his readers that God’s discipline in their lives, though painful and unwelcome is producing righteousness and its peaceful fruit in them. As God’s children, He disciplines us because He loves us. And just as an earthly father disciplines his child to train them with the goal of them one day living “rightly”, so does God’s Spirit graciously train us.

An immature believer fails to distinguish these truths. Too many believe that now because they are forgiven, they can live however they want. “After all, I’m accepted in Christ!” This Christian has failed to understand the need for ongoing imparted righteousness. They don’t understand that the fruit of righteousness having been credited is now to be actual righteous living!

But another immature believer continually struggles with shame and guilt because of his repeated sin and failure. This one has never understood their standing before God because of the Lord Jesus’ obedience and death for us. Or when disciplined by the Holy Spirit in the myriad of ways He often does, this believer becomes easily discouraged or confused thinking God has abandoned him or is angry with him. So many Christians live this way, sadly.

To grow into maturity necessitates we understand both truths. It is to know that before God we are wholly accepted and holy in His eyes…because of Christ’s righteousness, not ours. And simultaneously the goal of the indwelling Holy Spirit is to produce in us this righteousness, to impart to us the very life of Christ. What a great God we serve!

Rick and his wife Kathy have been in Northern California for 33 years, have planted two churches, and are the parents of 4 and grandparents of 11 beautiful children. His passion is the Word of God, teaching, equipping and strengthening the church locally, nationally and internationally.

Twitter: @RICKMARTINEZSAC