He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

                                                                                                                 Psalm 23:3 

Part of the wonderful thing about being a Christian is that we have the guidance of the Holy Spirit “keeping our paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). This however does not mean that we do not make mistakes, go through times of spiritual weakness, nor make bad decisions. As Christians, we are saved but entirely human in our day-to-day interactions. Righteousness comes not on the basis of our deeds rather it comes from our faith in Jesus.

David enjoyed the guidance that came from knowing the Lord as his Shepherd yet David was far from perfect in his actions. If we are to enjoy victory in the area of sin, it is vital that we understand how we are made right with God. The Bible gives us great truths regarding this eternally relevant subject. Consider the following: 

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 

The litmus test in determining what we believe about salvation, righteousness, and forgiveness can be answered with just two questions: (1) do you believe that you are going to heaven? and (2) why? As Christians, if we are not able to answer the first question in the affirmative with boldness and certainty, there is a problem. If we answer the second question with anything remotely pointing to our own actions as the basis for our salvation, we have allowed religion to infiltrate our thinking about salvation, righteousness, and forgiveness.

Paul’s instructions regarding righteousness give us all that we need to enjoy victory over sin as well as guard against false notions that we need to add our own efforts to the equation. First, for the one who attempts to work for his/her salvation (through moral living, right decisions, avoiding mistakes), Paul reminds us that all of those efforts are “not credited as a favor” rather they are “what is due.” It other words, we do not get to boast about the kind of life that we have lived since all of us are equally guilty of breaking all of God’s Law (James 2:10) and all of us are equally in need of a Savior (Romans 5:18).

Secondly, the one who rejects trying to earn his salvation through works and simply receives the gift of salvation by trusting in Christ (believing), his/her faith is credited as righteousness. When we recognize that we are in need of a Savior, trusting in Jesus to save us, understanding that He is capable of “justifying the ungodly,” then we are saved and can rest in His provision and guidance. Once we deviate from this simple plan of God to redeem, we set ourselves up for defeat, depression, and despair. God desires for believers to live in the victory that He has already won through the provision of Christ. When we live below that level of victory, we are essentially ignoring the finality and power of the cross (Romans 1:16). Paul even quotes David (the author of Psalm 23) in explaining this truth: 

… just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”

                                                                                                                   Romans 4:6-8 

We are truly blessed when we live every moment in the confidence that, as born again believers in Jesus, we are saved, redeemed, and forgiven. And this righteous standing before God is completely “apart from works.” Those who wear themselves out, obsessed with their own performance (or lack of), cannot claim that same spiritual victory as they are operating outside of biblical truth, believing that they must continue to “work” in order to be accepted by God. This mindset produces guilt, shame, and despair every time that the individual experiences failure or stumbles in some way.

But for those who understand that their righteousness comes as a result of their faith, three blessings are enjoyed: (1) knowledge that our lawless deeds have been forgiven, (2) knowledge that our sins have been covered, and (3) knowledge that the Lord will not take our sins into account. This perspective does not foster a willingness or desire to continue to sin rather in frees us and gives us the victory to choose the things of God over the things of the world. It doesn’t make us “better” than others rather it indicates that we belong to God.

Are you living in the power, victory, and security that comes from knowing that you belong to God and that your righteousness in on the basis of faith? Why not spend some time today meditating on the truths that come from Paul’s instruction about righteousness? It just might be the catalyst to your spiritual freedom!