Many times in the Bible God makes wonderful promises for those who are “righteous”. Here are a few of my favorites.
The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. – Proverbs 15:29 NIV
Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear. – Matthew 13:43 NIV
The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all. – Psalm 34:19 NIV
The path of the righteous is level; you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth. – Isaiah 26:7 NIV
And there are many more. Sometimes when I read them, I wonder how they could possibly apply to me. I am not righteous! No one is … on their own. We are all sinners. (Romans 3:10). But amazingly, God made a way for anyone to be called righteous in spite of themself. He made a way for sinners who are eternally separated from him to be grafted into the exceedingly wonderful blessings he has for his children. It is by faith in Jesus, who through his death on the cross provided the only sufficient payment for our sin debt.
When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. – Isaiah 53:11 NLT
But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. – Romans 4:5 NLT
I am so thankful for my salvation. I know beyond a doubt that without the knowledge of my righteousness in Christ; without my hope for eternity in a much better place; without the blessed assurance that God is in control — the headlines would be looking pretty scary these days.
So how do you go about receiving this righteousness?
Acknowledge you’re a sinner. (For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. – Romans 3:23 NLT)
Understand that a holy God cannot allow sin into his presence. (For the wages of sin is death… – Romans 6:23a NLT)
But that he made a way for us to be with him through his son, Jesus. (…but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.- Romans 6:23 NLT)
Tell God that you know you’re a sinner and that you want Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. Have faith that your Redeemer conquered the grave. (If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved…For Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. – Romans 10:9,13 NLT)
If you are ready to ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, pray this prayer…
“God, I know I am a sinner. I know that on my own I will never be ‘good enough’ and that I am in need of a Savior. I thank you that you sent your Son to pay the only sufficient price for my sins. Today I am placing my faith in Jesus and am choosing to follow him all the days of my life.”
…and know that if you meant it, you are now a child of God. Once you turn to Jesus as your only salvation, God will begin a sanctifying work in your life and you will never be the same.
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. – Philippians 1:6 NLT