6. Righteousness of God
Romans 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested…which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.
The Promise is that the Righteousness of God is unto all and upon all that believe. It is manifested by faith of Jesus Christ. Faith is the heart that receives the gift of the righteousness of God; this faith is the faith of Jesus Christ; this faith identifies us with Christ and makes us one with Him; God sees me, God sees Christ; we are so united in a mysterious way the two of us are One, and that “One” wears and bears the righteousness of God forever.
This righteousness of God is without the law, outside of the law, and does not come upon us because of the law. It is sheer gift, earned by Jesus Christ. There is no whiff or whisper of law that touches the gift of righteousness. God because of Christ alone directly and clearly bestows His righteousness. It is given to faith bypassing the law and its works as it is received by faith alone. It is given independently of anything within the believer but granted purely by grace alone.
This righteousness of God is all God’s and all of God and has nothing at all to do with us; there is no merit or value or worthiness in us that receives the gift. Another fine point is that this righteousness of God is God’s, and technically it is not the righteousness of Christ that is manifested to us, other than that He is God. The righteous, perfect, holy, sinless life of Christ lived as a human has earned the favor of God, and His life is the innocent sacrifice for our sinful lives. Although we preach about the “righteousness of Christ” robing us, it is more Scripturally accurate to say it is the “righteousness of God” that is manifested unto and upon us. This promise leaves us in no doubt that the righteousness of God is more than good enough for us to avail before God both now and hereafter. Clothed in God’s own righteousness alone, faultless, guiltless, sinless and blameless I come before the Throne.