Righteousness/Substitute

Righteousness is right doing. Whatever standard of right doing that man may set up, if it is contrary to, or does not align with, God’s standard of righteousness, or even if it does align with God’s standard, but is set out to be achieved or accomplished in man’s own strength; that righteousness is considered man’s and is described as filthy rags.

However, when man obeys God’s standard of righteousness, which is His law, and which can only be obeyed by man, as he permits the Spirit of God to dwell within him: this righteousness, should not be, nor can it be, described as filthy rags. For to do so, is to diminish the righteousness of God’s law, and discredit the power of the Holy Spirit, which would be tantamount to blasphemy against the Spirit; for His power and work is being credited to man. In addition, this is the righteousness that God requires so He can impute the righteousness of Jesus on man.

When a man accepts Jesus as Lord and Saviour, and is baptised with the Holy Spirit, he becomes a new creature, and begins on a journey towards a life of perfect obedience to God. This life is accomplished through the power of the indwelling Spirit, Who speaks of Jesus and guides the believer into all truth, as it is in Jesus. For it is the Spirit that inspired and attends the writing of Scripture.

As the believer beholds Jesus, through a study of the words of scripture, he becomes a partaker of the divine nature, and is changed into His image from glory to glory – the image in which man was created.

Jesus is the only man who rendered to God the perfect loyalty, and obedience that God required of man from creation. Therefore, to enter God’s kingdom, man must be covered with the righteousness of Jesus: for perfect obedience (righteousness) is what God requires and accepts.

If God is just – and He is – and is also known to be the God of justice, then, there has to be a law that is even as He is – just. For without law, there can be no justice. This law will determine, on whom, God will impute the righteousness of His Son.

Jesus will never be the substitute for anyone who is not counted worthy of His righteousness. For his righteousness does not cover harboured sins, neither practising sins, nor unconfessed sins, but only sins that are repented of and forsaken. For this reason, the call comes to man, to be reconciled to God.

References. Matt. 10:37-39; Luke 20:35; Luke 21:36; Rev. 3:4

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