“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe” (Romans 3:21,22).
Paul’s “heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel (was), that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1), but Jesus had come “unto His own, and His own received Him not” (John 1:11). Because of their rejection of Jesus Christ, Paul said the Jews were “ignorant of God’s righteousness” and went “about to establish their own righteousness,” not submitting themselves unto the righteousness of God (Romans 10:3). The fact is, however, that God has “set forth (Jesus Christ) 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). “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Romans 10:4).
Isaiah speaks of the righteousness of the “rod out of the stem of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1). “And righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His reins” (Isaiah 11:5). “I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles” (Isaiah 42:6). “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:10,11).
“If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him” (I John 2:29). CJH
