Most of us gauge our righteousness by comparing ourselves to the depraved culture or the misguided individuals around us. No matter how well you compare to the people around you, you aren’t righteous enough to meet the required standards.
As Paul continued to pen Romans, he wrote about his deep concern for his fellow Jewish people. They were deeply religious but not righteous.
10:1 Brothers and sisters, my heartâs desire and prayer to God concerning them is for their salvation. 2 I can testify about them that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 Since they are ignorant of the righteousness of God and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to Godâs righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes,Â
Romans 10:1-4
He so desperately wanted to see his prayer answered that the Israelites would obtain salvation through faith in Jesus (Romans 10:1). Watching their zeal for righteous activity in religious situations reminded him of their essential piece of missing knowledge. They were passionate about God, but their ignorance concerning Jesus would be their downfall (Romans 10:2).
Witnessing their religious fervor probably reminded Paul of his own. Growing up in the Jewish religious system with an impressive spiritual pedigree, Paul exhibited zeal like none other (Philippians 3:3-6). But for all his religious commitment, he saw it as a loss compared to knowing Christ (Philippians 3:7-8).
In their passion for God, they attempted to prove they could achieve righteousness in their own power (Romans 10:3). Trying to establish personal righteousness indicates you are seeking to convince God you are good enough.
To submit to Godâs righteousness means that you are trusting in faith to obtain that which you cannot earn.
Christ ended our need for unsuccessful attempts at proven personal righteousness. Keeping the law only proves how unrighteous we genuinely are. Believing in Christ is the only way to obtain the righteousness required to have a right relationship with God (Romans 10:4).
How confident are you that you have obtained righteousness in the way the Scripture portrays? If I asked you how righteous you are, what would you say?
Your response should indicate that while your sins made you unrighteous, trusting in Jesus has made you righteous in His eyes. It starts âif you confess with your mouth, âJesus is Lord,â and believe in your heart that God raised him from the deadâ (Romans 10:9). Christ provides salvation, but you can experience it through such faith. Believing in Jesus brings about the result of righteousness (Romans 10:10).
9 If you confess with your mouth, âJesus is Lord,â and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
Romans 10:9-10
Admitting that you are in sin and in need of a Savior is the way to obtain righteousness. Attempting to prove you acquired it on your own only draws more attention to your need for grace.
Stop trying to establish your righteousness and start trusting in the righteousness that Christ offers you. He took your unrighteousness and paid for it on the cross so you can be covered by His righteousness when you stand before God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.