Galatians 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

If there is any other way that you or I could be in right standing with God other than Jesus and only through Jesus, that means Jesus wasted His time going to the cross.

Think about that for just a moment.

You see when it comes to the kingdom of God the righteousness of God is the key to everything promised.

Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Paul used some pretty assertive and direct language in Galatians to convey the importance of Christ’ death on the cross. The main point having to do with how the righteousness of God is required.

Romans 1:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

If Paul is praying that Israel would be saved doesn’t that mean they were not saved?

For all their efforts to keep the law they still had not acquired the righteousness of God. We are not dealing with just any old type of righteousness here. It is a specific brand of righteousness that is required. It is the “Righteousness of God.” The righteousness of God can only be received as a gift from God according to faith in Christ.

Think about it, even though Israel was still under the law of Moses and zealous about being devoted to God, they were not saved. Being devoutly religious and full of zeal because one thinks that by such a means they will please God and prove their devotion to Him, will not save them.

Being passionate about being a moral person does not save a person. In fact, Paul makes it clear that Israel was seeking to establish their own righteousness through the keeping of the law.

He equally establishes the fact, that in doing so they were rejecting the righteousness of God. He says clearly that by trying to establish their own righteousness they were not submitting themselves to the righteousness of God.

Even more scandalous is what Paul says next. “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

So the idea that anyone could attain to the level of the Righteousness of God by any self effort diminishes the value, glory and preciousness of the Righteousness of God. It should be seen as an insult to God.

So how is the Righteousness of God obtained?

Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.

This is what took place at the mount of transfiguration when Jesus was seen glorified and talking with Moses and Elijah. Moses represents the law and Elijah the prophets. The righteousness of God we must possess comes to us, apart from the law. It does not come by way of the law. Nor is it maintained by trusting in the law.

2Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Only by grace through faith in Christ can anyone possess the Righteousness of God required to be in relationship with God. Trusting in anything else to make us more acceptable to God in any way is an insult to both the Father and the Son because it testifies that Jesus was not enough.

I am thankful that Jesus is more than enough and I will put my confidence in His obedience and completed work above anything I could ever bring to God in my own effort.