Imagine a time when you lost something invaluable: your wallet, checkbook, passport, jewelry. How do you respond?
Some people become very intense and begin actively looking. They frantically look high and low for what they have lost. Others may feel overwhelmed and just become apathetic. They resign themselves to the loss and become passive.
The Bible says that we have all lost something invaluable: our righteousness. Righteousness means being right with God, ourselves, people, and the world. The righteous person is correctly aligned with God’s character and will. But all people have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). There are two ways to respond to losing our righteousness.
Lawlessness: Some people sense what is wrong in them and just decide to lean into it. They think “I’ll just do what I want; whatever feels good. I’ll rebel against the God I don’t believe in.” They devote themselves to the pursuit of pleasure, self-indulgence, success. In the New Testament, this response can be seen in how the Gentiles are often described. In Jesus’ parable of the two sons, this is the response of the rebellious son who left home (see Luke 15).
Legalism: Other people sense their loss of righteousness and strive to make their own. They try to earn a moral standing and achieve their own righteousness, through human morality or man-centered religion. In the New Testament, this response can be seen in how the Jews are often described. In Jesus’ parable of the two sons, this is the response of the self-righteous son who stayed home.
The two extremes of Lawlessness or Legalism are just as far off from finding God. We can further distinguish these two groups based upon whether they pursue this track with Intensity or Apathy. Consider the four quadrants in this diagram:
- Active Rebellion: These people are headed toward Lawlessness with Intensity in their acts. They live their lives thinking, “I can do whatever I want!” They are openly defiant and intensely rebellious against God and his rules.
- Reserved Disobedience: These people have also given into Lawlessness with Apathy in their heart. They are less intense, more passive in their disobedience. They live their lives thinking, “I’m not hurting anyone.” While their disobedience may be more reserved, they are in rebellion nonetheless.
- Arrogant Self-Righteousness: These people have given into Legalism with Intensity in their pursuit. They convince themselves, “I’m doing everything right!” These people are rule followers, intense, and full of pride about their self-righteousness.
- Passive Self-Reliance: These people are living in Legalism with Apathy. In other words, they quietly think to themselves, “I’m doing pretty good on my own.” They live a calm, self-disciplined life of legalism.
Of course none of these approaches will restore our path to righteousness! None of these paths will lead us toward peace with God! But the good news is, you don’t have to live frantically rebelling against God or striving to earn God’s favor through your own works of righteousness. Salvation is near!
“But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim)…” | Romans 10:6-8
The apostle Paul says that righteousness is not found through a strict adherence to all of God’s commandments (sin has rendered this impossible), but now righteousness is based on faith! To make his point, he takes us back to the book of Deuteronomy, where Moses is preparing the people to enter the Promised Land and live for God. In chapter 30, Moses reminds them that God will circumcise their hearts so that they love and obey the Lord. He then says this commandment is not too hard – God’s Word is not too far off. Paul quotes this passage and uses it to refer to Christ, who is the Living Word! The path to righteousness is near to us!
Now we can stop frantically searching and striving to find our way back to God. You don’t have to think in your heart, “Well I guess if we want to be righteous and live with God, someone’s going to have to go up to heaven and bring Christ down. Who’s going to do that?” Or, “Who is going to go all the way down to the grave to bring Christ up?”
No, God’s righteousness is near to us because the message of the Gospel is right here!
God has already brought the Savior down from heaven to earth, and he already brought the Savior up from the grave to heaven! The message of faith in Christ is right here, it’s the Gospel message that has been proclaimed. It’s in your mouth and in your heart.
“…because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” | Romans 10:9-10
We don’t need to frantically search, striving to find the Savior. The Savior has come to us! Salvation is near. Righteousness is based on faith. Simply believe that Jesus is Lord. Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart and you will be saved! It is faith in the Gospel that brings our righteousness!
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