When we accepted Jesus’ free gift of salvation and started following Him, we traded our sinfulness for His righteousness.
Paul talks about no longer trusting in his righteousness through keeping the law, but trusting what Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection did for him.
Simply defined, the word righteousness means “right standing with God.”
Believers have been moved into right standing with God through their faith in Jesus.
This righteousness, this godliness, guards our path. Not like some great troll under the bridge or a hulking shadow. Our salvation gains us the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, comforting us, correcting us, guiding us, teaching us.
The wicked – those who set themselves against God – do not have this comfort and protection. Their sin choices guide them on paths no human was created for, and these paths only spiral further and further out of control.
The Amplified Bible translates the Hebrew more completely, making sure the concepts are not lost as they move it into English. I find it quite interesting.
“Righteousness (rightness and
justice in every area and relation)
guards him who is upright in the
way, but wickedness plunges into
sin and overthrows the sinner.”
So, the choice to be anti-God plunges that person into sin and takes over.
Oh, Believer! We must be grateful for this gift of the righteousness of Christ and His Holy Spirit! We must trust that our paths are guarded by Him and nothing we could do.
I believe we should also mourn for those who have chosen a different path, setting themselves up to be overthrown by their wicked choices. I think our Lord does. He loves them.
Let’s take a minute each day and remind ourselves that we ARE the righteousness of God in Christ. Aloud. Look in that mirror and say, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ!”
Then walk in the confidence of that truth all day. As your demeanor changes, some of those around you who are choosing their own overthrow may decide they are ready for rescue. Glorious day when we can help rescue the perishing!
All right, get on up and go look in that mirror!
Coffee, Bible, Journal.