Rick Baugh Supporter Follower of Christ cleverly disguised as a software engineer

Context is very important in understanding what a scripture passage is saying. The "none righteous" passage from Romans is from a context of explaining why everyone needs a savior; because no one of Adam's seed is righteous by their own merit by having lived a sinless life. For all have sinned.

At the same time, the word "righteous" is often used in the old and new testament to reference those who fear God, and have faith in Him. Your reference is from Psalm 34, a psalm giving glory to God, well known for the passage, "Taste and see that the Lord is good." The "righteous" here, even a murderer like David who wrote this psalm, have an imputed righteousness, given as a grant by faith that was not merited of their own.

When Abram demonstrated his faith in the Lord by being willing to obey God even to the sacrifice of his own son, Gen 15:6 says, "Abram believed the Lord, and he (the Lord) credited it to him as righteousness." Not that Abram *was* righteous, but that it was credited to him. Now, we know that whenever we normally receive credit, we are getting benefit of something that is not truly ours, at least not yet. We have to pay it back. But in Abram's case, as well as all of the OT "righteous" ones, their credit was not paid until Christ died on the cross.

The good news is that today, when we confess to God that we also believe His Word and His promise of salvation by faith in Christ, we are not just "credited" righteousness, we *are* righteous in the sight of God from then on. Why? Because the "credit" has already been paid in full, once and for all.

December 16 2022 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Mark Vestal Supporter Proud of nothing of myself. Freed by Christ who did it all!

When we believe the gospel of our salvation (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), we are immediately sealed with the holy Spirit until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30, Ephesians 1:13). We, by belief, are made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). Prior to belief, we were of the "none righteous", but faith in Christ alone has made us the righteousness of God. No one is capable of righteousness on their own accord. Only through faith in Jesus Christ and the work that He alone finished on the cross on our behalf, and belief that He rose from the grave for our justification are we then accepted by God.

Our sins were forgiven nearly 2,000 years ago (Colossians 1:14, 2 Corinthians 5:19), and salvation occurs at the moment of belief in this, the gospel. Nothing that we ourselves do in the flesh can assist in what Christ completed for us (Ephesians 2:8-9, Colossians 2:10). It's literally how we accept Jesus Christ as our savior from this present evil world (Galatians 1:4). Only faith in Christ will work for salvation today. When you obtain faith alone in Christ alone for salvation, you have the license to serve Him instead of serving yourself. You are now an ambassador for Christ and a minister of the word of reconciliation between God and man. You will desire to share the good news that saves today when you let go of yourself and submit to God through faith in Christ. Jesus Christ was perfect for us, did all the work for us, took the punishment on the cross that we deserve, was buried, but rose from the grave the 3rd day for our justification (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

Break the yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1) and live in peace by accepting God’s free gift (Romans 5:18) through faith in Christ and His finished cross-work (Colossians 2:14)!

December 12 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report