RIGHTEOUSNESS: THE GOAL OF THE RELIGIOUS!
Righteousness defined: God-like; holiness; perfection; the state of man as God intended him to be. See:
Genesis 1:26 - And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness....
RELIGION CANNOT MAKE ONE RIGHTEOUS!
Isaiah 64:6 - But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses (efforts to be holy) are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Romans 3:10, 23 - As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one . . . . For all have sinned, and come short of the glory (God's standard of holiness) of God.
Romans 10:1-3 - Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel, is that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
RIGHTEOUSNESS COMES FROM BELIEVING GOD!
Genesis 15:6 - And he (Abram; Abraham) believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness.
Romans 4:3 - For what do the Scriptures say? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Galatians 3:6 - Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
James 2:23 - And the Scripture was fulfilled which said, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God.
GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS IS AVAILABLE TO ALL!
Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness....
Romans 10:4-5, 9-13 - For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses described the righteousness which is of the Law, That the man who does those things shall live by them (something none of us can do - see Galatians 2:21; 3:24-25). . . . If you shall confess with your mouth (faith in) the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, Whosoever believes in Him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek (Gentile; non-Jew): for the same Lord over all is rich (in mercy and grace) unto all who call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
2 Corinthians 5:21 - For He (God, the Father) has made Him (Jesus, His Only Begotten Son) to be sin for us, Who knew no sin (Jesus was sinless - see Hebrews 4:15); that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are you saved (declared righteous) through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of (religious) works, lest any man should boast.
RELIGION LEADS TO HELL!
BELIEF LEADS TO HEAVEN!
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