Righteousness of Faith

 

For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening [porosis – blindness or insensitivity] has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in [most likely, the establishment of the Kingdom Age at the conclusion of the Tribulation]; and so, all Israel will be saved [delivered]; just as it is written, "THE DELIVERER [REDEEMER] WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB." "THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS." From the standpoint of the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice, they are beloved for the sake of the fathers, for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable [without regret]. For just as you once were disobedient [apeithio – unbelief] to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you, they also may now be shown mercy. For God has shut up all [sugkleio – enclose together] in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.         Romans 11:25-32 

Hundreds of years before God gave Israel the Law of Moses, thus establishing the old covenant, He had established a covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17:2). Unlike the covenant through Moses, Abraham’s covenant was unconditional; Abraham needed only to believe in the promises of God. Paul understood that this covenant pointed directly to Christ, and he explained it to the Galatian churches: 

Abraham’s Promise 

Now, the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ. What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God so as to nullify the promise. For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise, but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.            Galatians 3:16-18

The seed of Abraham are the Jews and the Gentiles who have placed their trust in Jesus as the Christ. The remainder, those who are yet to believe, are still not disqualified from the Lord’s promises since the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable, without regret. Paul explains that their disobedience, not allowing oneself to be persuaded, is part of the salvation plan since it is a source of motivation for those who become believers in Jesus.  But in what sense are the now unbelieving and excluded children of Israel acceptable in the perfect plan of God? In Verse 32, those unbelievers who have now become believers are the vehicle that God uses to attract the unbelieving Jew or Gentile (all) to come to know Him. God emphasizes that He is a God of mercy. 1 Peter 2:10: for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. 

Faith in the Promises 

For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is nullified; for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation. For this reason, it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.                  Romans 4:13-16 

Yahweh promised Abraham that through faith in the promises of God, Abraham would receive His righteousness.

Then he believed in the Lord, and He reckoned it to him as righteousness [tsdaqah.- right attitudes, right actions, integrity]( Genesis 15:6). Paul states that this transaction (faith) must be in accordance with grace. He had explained earlier in the chapter that Now, to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor but as what is due. But to the one who does not work but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness (Romans 4:4-5). Any kind of human effort, called work, can never produce righteousness. They are recognized as a wage, what is due. Righteousness must be unearned, a free gift. 

Finding Righteousness

What shall we say then? Gentiles who did not pursue [dioko – to go after with the expectation of success] righteousness attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith, but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.            Romans 9:30-32 

Paul addressed the means of finding righteousness for both Jews and Gentiles, which requires faith and does not work. In fact, in an earlier chapter, he addresses the matter when considering Gentiles, who do not have the Law, do instinctively the things of the Law; these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them (Romans 2:14-15).

The above quote from Romans 2 references the Gentile who recognizes and follows the seven Noahide Laws. Judaism says a Gentile does not have to follow the Mosaic Law; however, all Gentiles are obliged to follow the Noahide Laws. The laws given to Noah’s children are universally binding. A non-Jew who abides by the Noahide Laws is considered a “pious Gentile," according to Judaism, and will earn a reward in the afterlife if his obedience is coupled with a knowledge that the laws come from God. A "pious Gentile” might also be called a “righteous Gentile” or simply a “Noahide.” According to the Bible Knowledge Commentary:

Such persons show that the Law is not to be found only on tablets of stone and included in the writings of Moses; it is also inscribed in their hearts and is reflected in their actions, consciences, and thoughts. The Law given to Israel is, in reality, only a specific statement of God's moral and spiritual requirements for everyone. Moral Gentiles, by their actions, show that the requirements (literally, "the work") of the Law are written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this: the faculty within human beings that evaluates their actions and thoughts that either accuse or excuse them of sin. This is why Paul called such Gentiles a law for themselves.

A Law of Righteousness 

By pursuing a law of righteousness, Israel was doing it through religious activities, so their lack of faith left them wanting. In Romans 10:2-3, Paul explains For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves [hupotasso – to place under in an orderly fashion] to the righteousness of God. Righteousness of faith can be understood to refer to God’s righteousness (standards of right and wrong) in which the believer places his trust or faith. The work of the law must be written in the heart with an intention to honor God’s righteousness. Israel did not recognize that God's dealings with them were just, and consequently, they would not submit themselves to Him. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (Romans 10:4).

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore, keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke [bondage] of slavery. Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed [katargeo – rendered inactive] from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen [ekpipto – to lose one’s part or interest] from grace. For we, through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything but faith working [energeo – operative, active] through love.               Galatians 5:1-6 

Freedom in Christ

As Paul writes in Galatians 3:23-24, But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore, the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ so that we may be justified by faith. He refers to it above as bondage of slavery. Since a relationship with Christ is based on faith in who He is, the person who tries to please or impress God by honoring the Law as to be justified (made righteous), according to the KJV, "Christ is become of no effect unto you." To go further, this individual has lost the place he may have in the grace of God. Any benefit he may have in Christ will solely depend on his efforts and not through a free gift. Isaiah 64:6 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment…

For the creation was subjected to futility [mataiotes – vanity, worthlessness], not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.      Romans 8:20-21

Adam’s fall in the garden resulted in several curses, including that all creation would be subjected to a life defined by futility or worthlessness with an anticipation or hope that Adam would be set free from life’s corruption into freedom, pointing to life in the Messiah. The believer experiences a portion of that freedom inwardly, through Christ’s victory over sin and death, but the fullness of that victory is realized outwardly at his glorification. The freedom each believer has in Christ is not derived from living under the Law of Moses but found in a life defined by righteousness. But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:17-18). It is an eternal paradox that our slavery to righteousness produces freedom. 

Love Your Neighbor 

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love, serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."        Galatians 5:13-14 

Evidence of the believer’s found freedom in Christ is most clearly demonstrated in his treatment of others. Loving one's neighbor as oneself fulfills the Law just as Christ did at Calvary (Matthew 5:17).

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  1 Corinthians 6:9