“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” (Romans 3:24)

“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” (Romans 3:25)

“To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26)

Romans 3:20b says, “…for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

What is Righteousness? Acting rightly; upright; morally right or justifiable (righteous actions)

1) Our Righteousness:

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6) (See also Isaiah 61:10-11.)

Our Righteousness is only self-righteousness; and is not sufficient to stand in the Day of Judgment. We cannot produce righteousness with our Adamic (old) nature.

2) The Righteousness which is of Jesus Christ can only be imputed (Romans 4:6), righteousness which comes by faith (Romans 3:24); “…through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God” (Romans 3:25).

“The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.” (Psalms 98:2)

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10)

“For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.” (Isaiah 61:11)

The Psalmist says in Psalms 85:10, “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”

3) Righteousness is the Result of the Promise of God; not of works of (man or) the Law:

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)

“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” (Galatians 3:16)

Thank God that He has given us The Faith; and He has given us the Promise. In Obedience, the Glory which we have received (Righteousness) shall be revealed in us.

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)