My God Is Just
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. — Isaiah 61:10
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom God set forth to be an atoning sacrifice{or, a propitiation}, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God's forbearance. — Romans 3:24-25
Author
Faustino de Jesús Zamora Vargas
Summary: God alone is truly just. Rather than pursuing material ambitions or trusting in outward displays of religion, let us seek his kingdom first and cultivate a humble relationship with him. His righteousness is a gift we receive through faith, not through our own merit, and it should be reflected in our conduct toward God and others. The righteous are not perfect: they repent, seek his face, and practice justice. Rooted in his Word, they live fruitful lives, unlike the wicked. In the gospel, God reveals his righteousness by offering Jesus to wipe away our sins and bring salvation to those who believe.
The righteousness of God is a central theme in the Bible, recurring and essential. All the more so in this age, when the most fundamental values have been turned upside down by the excesses of an apostate culture, and standards of justice have been distorted by the sin of ungodly humanity.
In his folly, man labors to achieve his ambitions and does so on his own, without caring whom he drags down with him; he delights in the pursuit of material things and has forgotten that there is a just God who offers righteousness and mercy if he first bows his heart and seeks the values of His kingdom. The word of God speaks for itself: “Rather, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Mt 6:33).
The righteousness of God concerns man’s relationship with his Creator and a supreme act of His sovereignty in showing mercy to those who seek Him with all their hearts. The righteousness Christians are called to seek before God is grounded in their conduct and their actions toward God, toward other believers, and toward unbelievers. God wants sons and daughters who do not base their relationship with Him on religiosity and adherence to rules and standards of outward piety, but on an intense and humble relationship that glorifies Him. God alone is truly righteous. Let us not deceive ourselves: God’s righteousness is a gift, as faith is. Faith is the basic component of our spiritual architecture; by it the righteous will live—“…because the righteous will live by faith” (Galatians 3:11b)—not by merits earned in struggles against the earthly enemy.
Psalm 1, the gateway to the most beautiful and widely read devotional book in the world, opens up a universe of rich teachings about the blessings the righteous receive from God. The righteous are not perfect, but they long for perfection as a response to life in the Spirit. Who are the righteous in God’s eyes? “Dear children, let no one deceive you. The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous” (1 Jn 3:7).
The Bible shows us, in all its spiritual depth, that the righteous were, and still are, the upright in heart, those who show mercy, faithful believers, the oppressed and needy, those who wait on God, who seek His face at all times and love His name, who treasure salvation and grieve in their hearts when they sin, who walk and act “as though seeing Him who is invisible,” who trust and fear God, the meek, the poor in spirit, those who love His word, the humble, those who seek peace. The Bible tells the stories of many people of faith who, though they sinned, received God’s mercy and help in the most difficult moments of their lives: David, Noah, Abraham, Joshua, Paul, and others. The present and future of the righteous is an abundant life that bears fruit because it is rooted in the Word of God. Inevitably, the opposite will happen to the ungodly and the enemies of divine righteousness.
The righteousness that comes from God is revealed in the gospel (Rom 1:17). His greatest manifestation of righteousness was the sacrifice of His Son Jesus to wipe away our sins and bring us salvation. Our finite minds cannot comprehend such an act of God’s mercy and faithfulness. “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. Indeed, there is no distinction” (Rom 3:22). God offered Jesus Christ to reveal His righteousness to us. John surprises us even more with another incredible revelation: If you recognize that Jesus Christ is righteous, recognize also that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him. (1 Jn 2:29). Let us live, then, to be worthy of the righteous Jesus, from whom we have been born, and to magnify His eternal righteousness!
God bless you!
Suggested reading: Psalm 1