Righteousness Disclosed

While taking hold of "the righteousness of God"  (Romans 3:21) may be a stretch for our minds, the Word written through the Apostle Paul by the Holy Spirit does go on to tell us that it "has been disclosed and is attested to by the law and the prophets..."   At this point in the reading, we might ask ourselves how can this be?  The answer, of course, is found in Jesus Christ, the Holy One of God who was proclaimed in the what we know as the Old Testament and who came into the world through Bethlehem.  The gospel writer and Apostle John spoke of the righteousness of God being revealed and made visible as he wrote, "the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen His glory..."  (John 1:14)   

Anyone's search for an understanding of the righteousness of God must begin by acknowledging that it is something too great to completely understand.  There will always be something about God's righteousness that we cannot know.  And, even as this is acknowledged, it is also true that we can catch a glimpse of the integrity, character, and nature of the righteousness of God by looking at Jesus who is revealed to us through the pages of the gospel and spoken of in the early apostolic letters written to the churches.     

In an intimate conversation with the disciples, Jesus said to Philip, "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father."  (John 14:9)  In Christ the righteousness of God is disclosed for all to see. As we see the manner in which Jesus related to the Father as well as those regarded as the least and the lost of his day, we see the right way to live our lives as those who desire to live a life that "honors God."  (Romans 1:21)  Our hope for righteousness is not found in the externals of religious systems, but in the indwelling presence of this righteous One having control of our heart.