Righteousness Is A Gift, Not A Reward

"Those who receive...the gift of righteousness will reign in life."      Romans 517 NKJV

The Bible says, "Those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ."  The righteousness that God approves and accepts comes as a 'gift."  And it's based on "grace."  And grace means "unmerited, unearned, undeserved favor with God."  Are you trying through your own efforts to earn right standing before God?  Do you believe that by doing more good deeds, giving more, praying more, serving more, that God will love you more and bless you?  These are all good things.  Indeed, they are important things. But the righteousness God accepts is a "gift" which He Himself bestows and you yourself cannot earn. Indeed, if you had to earn it, it wouldn't be a gift; it would be a reward for your efforts. Furthermore, how would you know when you had done enough to please God and be acceptable before Him? Satan will take very opportunity to condemn you for never doing enough.  When that happens, you begin to fall into the trap of guilt, condemnation, and shame. When you base your relationship with God on your own merits, you will always fall short.  Note something else in this Scripture. When you see your righteousness as a gift bestowed upon you by God because you have placed your trust in Christ, you begin to "reign in life."  Link this Scripture together with Romans 6:14, "For sin shall not have dominion over you," and you begin to get the picture.  Instead of being ruled by the world, the flesh, and the devil, you "reign" over them.

This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today