...that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.
   - Philippians 3:8-9

What does "the righteousness of God" mean? First, of course, it tells us that God is absolutely righteous. But there is more. Christ glorified God on the earth, He finished the work that God gave Him to do, and God was righteous in raising Him from the dead and setting Him at His own right hand in the heavens.

But Christ was made sin for us, He was made a curse for us, He bore our sins in His own body on the tree. The very fact that God is righteous in raising Christ from the dead, and setting Him on high in the glory, is proof that all our sins, our curse, are gone for ever. And so God is righteous in accepting us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6), and He is just (or righteous) in justifying us. Just as it would have been unrighteous not to raise Christ from the dead when He had finished the work God gave Him to do, so it would be unrighteous not to count righteous those who forake all confidence in themselves and trust only to Christ and His finished work.

So I count on the righteousness of God to reckon me righteous. "It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns?" (Romans 8:33-34). Now I am found in Him, and there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). There cannot be. "Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God---and righteousness and sanctification and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30).

If anyone asks, "How can a wretched sinner like you be justified?" I may answer: "Look at Christ. He is my righteousness. Is there any unrighteousness in Him? Surely, surely not! God sees me in Him. God looks at Christ, not at me. So, He sees me righteous.

The Chinese character for righteous tells the same story in a most beautiful way. Above is the character for "lamb," and below is the character for "I" or "me." So I am completely covered by the Lamb; and when God looks down at me, He sees only the Lamb---the spotless Lamb of God.

George C. Willis