Why should God accept you?

Where does your righteousness come from?

Righteousness simply means being in right standing. Being righteous means to be right, true, and acceptable. This is something that we all long for and want. We want to be in right standing, approved of, and accepted.

This is what Paul is specifically addressing in the second half of Romans 2. Paul wrote this letter to a church that was filled with people who had varying backgrounds.There were new Christians that were Jewish, and there were non-Jewish, Gentile Christians.  The result was disagreement and conflicting ideas about where righteousness came from, and so Paul is writing to bring clarity and correction. 

In verses 12-16, Paul is saying that Gentiles – those without the law – cannot claim to be “off the hook” in regards to the law and the righteousness of God because they did not know the law. Why? Because “the work of the law is written on their hearts”. We have been created in the image of God, and we all have a sense of right and wrong.

In verses 17-24, Paul is condemning and correcting the Jews that righteousness does not come from knowledge of God’s commandments and law, and then in verses 25-28, he is saying that righteousness does not come from circumcision or being passed down through a spiritual heritage. 

The main point that Paul is trying to make here is that righteousness does not come from external actions, affiliations, or lineage.

Yet, like the audience that Paul was writing to, we seek right standing and acceptance through external means. Thune and Walker in Gospel-Centered Life (adapted from and added to) list out false sources of righteousness that we put our hope in:

• Job Righteousness: I’m a hard worker so God will reward me.
• Family Righteousness: Because I “do things right” as a parent, I’m more godly than parents who can’t control their kids.
• Theological Righteousness: I have good theology. God prefers me over those who have bad theology.
• Sexual Righteousness: I date the right way, and I never struggle with sexual immorality like my friends and the culture around me. 
• Intellectual Righteousness: I am better read, more articulate, and more culturally savvy than others, which obviously makes me superior.
• Schedule Righteousness: I am self disciplined and rigorous in my time management, which makes me more mature than others.
• Mercy Righteousness: I care about the poor and disadvantaged the way everyone else should. 
• Approval Righteousness: If I am approved of by people I approve of and respect, then I’m good. 
• Financial Righteousness: I manage money wisely and stay out of debt. I’m not like those materialistic Christians who can’t control their spending.
• Political Righteousness: If you really love God, you’ll vote for my candidate.
• Tolerance Righteousness: I am open-minded and charitable toward those who don’t agree with me. In fact, I’m a lot like Jesus that way!

This list could go on-and-on. How would you fill in this blank? – “I am in right standing, and I am acceptable because ________.” 

These things may give you a sense of righteousness, but it is a righteousness by your own standard. Romans 3 makes clear that none of us are righteous by God’s standard. So what are we to do? Where does our righteousness come from? Romans 2:29 - [29] But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (ESV)

Righteousness does not come from external actions or affiliations, righteousness comes through a transformed heart by the Spirit of God.

Our perfect and righteous savior lived the life we could not live, he died the death that we deserve, and he rose from the dead so that through faith in him we are declared righteous, and we are accepted by God! 

Romans 1:16–17 - [16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. [17] For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (ESV)

I am in right standing because Jesus lived the perfect life in my place and gave me His righteousness. 

I am accepted by God because of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus. 

I am righteous because God has declared me righteous through faith in Jesus.

Keenan Harris is the Executive Pastor at Redeemer Church. He is married to Jancee and has three kids - Jack, Sam, and Addie.