TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS

Romans 3:10 As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God.

Every follower of Jesus has a certain hunger in his heart. It is a passionate zeal to be holy before God—free from sin, victorious over flesh, pure and spotless before the Lord.

The Holy Spirit actually plants this desire—an innate longing to live uprightly—in the heart of every human being.

*For nonbelievers, the spirit of this world can darken the mind to any sense of rightness.
*For believers, failure to live in a way that honors God can crush the spirit.

This desire to live right is behind the meaning of the word righteousness.
Righteousness means to be in right standing with God—to live with right motives, emotions and behavior—and establish right alignment with His purposes.  (moral orderliness)

To truly be righteous, we have to know what it is and is not.
The Bible describes our righteousness in two words:
1.  Justification-(our position, or right standing, with God).
*Romans 1:17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

2. Sanctification-(our walk with God, our ongoing relation to Him).
*Romans 6:22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.

*Don’t try to impress yourself or others with what you do. Be impressed with what God does.

Jesus, may I remember your sacrifice and help me keep my humility so the focus can be on You at all times.  May You receive All the Glory!  Amen