In the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last. (Romans 1:17, NIV 1984).
My Musings – We know what righteousness is. It is the quality of being morally right or justifiable. But what about a righteousness from God? He would be morally right and justifiable in condemning us for and punishing us for our sins. His own laws would demand it. He would not be righteousness if He did not. Mercy would not enter into the equation. For us, that would definitely be a moral dilemma. But not for God. “Now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known [revealed], to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” (Romans 3:21–22, NIV 1984).
The morally right and justifiable penalty for our sins was borne by Jesus Christ on the cross. He bore our condemnation and punishment. Not something any one man or woman could do. Only the incarnate God. The One we all have sinned against. “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:25–26, NIV 1984).
My Advice – That’s the Gospel. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set [us] free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so, he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us.” (Romans 8:1–4, NIV 1984).
So, we are faced with a choice. Submit to the righteousness of God, “the law of sin and death” without faith in Christ and condemnation or submit to the righteousness from God, “the law of the Spirit of life” through faith in Christ and no condemnation. Either way, “the righteousness requirement of the law” will be served. Condemnation or no condemnation. The choice is yours. I think you know what my advice is. I think you know what you should choose too, because the choice is clear.
The Brew Is A Musing 