Jesus said, “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20 (NKJV) The scripture says, “But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV) Yes Jesus knew we cannot do and that is why He came to give us His own righteousness as a gift to receive by faith. That is why it is written that the just shall live by faith.
““For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:37-39 (NKJV) We are supposed to live righteous by faith only. We cannot add anything to God given righteousness by doing some good works and living morally. Our righteousnesses are stinking like the filthy rags and this mixture will pollute everything, so be not deceived. Let us totally depend on God’s Righteousness, for then and then only, we can reign in life with Jesus.
“For if by the one man’s offence death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17 (NKJV)
By faith we should receive the Gift of righteousness which Jesus finished giving to us by His grace. The grace of God is providing us and by our faith in Him we are receiving. This is the perfect great righteousness which the Scribes and the Pharisees could not attain with all their physical disciplines. This exceeding righteousness is given to us freely without toiling. Let us receive with much gratefulness and thanksgiving. If we thank and praise God all our lifetimes also that will not be enough to thank Him for the gift God had provided for us in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Glory to God alone!
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”” Romans 1:16-17 (NKJV)