How to be made right with God
It seems everyone has an idea about how to be made right with God. Some think the way to be made right with God is through suffering and sacrifice, others believe it’s through their actions, the way they behave. If they act in a way that is acceptable to God and follow all His laws then they’ll be right with God. There are others who think it’s impossible to be right with God or to know for sure they’re right with God. The truth is, we don’t determine or decide how to be right with God—He does.
Made Right With God Through Faith
The Bible is very clear on how to be made right with God. Romans 3:28 (NLT) declares, “So we are made right with God through faith…”. That’s pretty straight forward, we are made right with God by “faith” in Jesus Christ! Being made right with God is called “righteousness”. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2Corinthians 5:17 NKJV). The NLT puts it this way, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” How are we made right with God? Through faith in Christ. Romans 3:22 (NLT) says, “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.” Nothing could be clearer.
Righteousness is a Gift
Righteousness, being made right with God, is a gift. “For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:17 NLT) Christ offers us His righteousness as a gift. It’s not something we deserve. It’s not something we can earn. We can never do enough good to earn or prove we are righteous. It is not our righteousness, it is His righteousness – it is a gift that we receive by “faith”. Paul makes this statement, “I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.” (Philippians 3:9 NLT) Friends, it’s not what we do, it’s what He did – as Paul said it is “God’s way of making us right”! Our own righteousness is never good enough, in fact “self righteousness is “as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) We are made right with God when we receive His righteousness by faith. It is called the “great exchange”. Jesus exchanges our sinfulness for His righteousness.
If you put your faith in Christ, that is to believe in your heart that He is Lord and state that’s what you believe, you are made right with God. You are “saved” or “born again”. (Romans 10:9-10) [CLICK HERE to watch a video and receive a free book on a New Start] In that moment you become a believer in Christ and you are made righteous.
Made Right With God by Grace through Faith
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Ephesians 2:8 NLT) Many Christians are still trying to be right with God through their own performance. They base their sense of acceptance by God on their effort, they are trying to earn their salvation doing it their way and not God’s way. This is exactly what Paul warns against in Romans 10:3, “ For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law.” The end result is on going guilt, condemnation, never pleasing God, and experiencing true freedom in Christ.
Don’t refuse God’s way, receive His gift of righteousness today!
(The next question we will answer is “How To Live Right?” Being right with God is a gift – living right is a choice. The good news is because we are now right with God we can live right. Watch for my next post to see how.)