But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way…
—Romans 10:6

In Christian circles there is a doctrine that a believer has two righteousnesses: one that is imputed to him by faith in Jesus, which for some reason is called “abstract”, and also a so-called “practical” righteousness, which the believer has to maintain by his works. Those who teach this say that even if we are righteous by faith, the believer’s works matter, affecting his righteous standing before God. In fact, by calling the righteousness of faith — or, as Scripture calls it, “the righteousness of God” — abstract, they not only devalue it and make it void, but also take believers back into the old covenant, in which God’s man receives blessings only if he flawlessly keeps all 10 commandments. But who is able to keep the law of Moses? No wonder so many believers in the church live in defeat.

There is no such “abstract righteousness” in Scripture; it is all an invention of theology professors. In the epistle to the Romans Paul draws a clear line between two righteousnesses: the first of the law, or of works, and the second of faith, or of God. “For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, ‘The man who does those things shall live by them.’” [Rom.10:5] The righteousness of the law is based on man’s keeping of the law and on works, but Paul writes: “For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect.” [Rom.4:14] In other words, whoever relies on his own works and his own keeping of the Law and the commandments of Moses disqualifies himself from all of God’s blessings. A sad picture. Sadder still is the fact that there are Christians who defend this righteousness of the law with all their might, as if living under curses were more pleasant for them than enjoying God’s blessings?!

Scripture also calls the righteousness of faith the righteousness of God. This can be seen not only in Romans chapter 10, where Paul uses them interchangeably, but also in other places in the epistles to the Romans and the Galatians. “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets.” [Rom.3:21] Of whom did the Law and the Prophets bear witness? Of Jesus Christ, of course. Jesus said: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” [Mat.5:17] To fulfil what? Everything the Law and the Prophets bore witness to about Him. Jesus asked Peter, who wanted to defend Him: “How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” [Mat.26:54] Jesus Christ is that righteousness which came apart from the law and apart from works. No wonder “the righteousness of faith speaks…”. Who speaks? The righteousness of God says: “Do not ask who will ascend into heaven and who will descend into the abyss”, because the very asking of such a question already implies some kind of works. Jesus has already descended into the abyss and has already ascended into heaven. The work is finished! A person’s works have nothing to do with his righteous standing before God or with his eternal salvation!!

Christ is our righteousness. [1 Cor.1:30] What does this mean? It means that regardless of what a person does in the flesh, if he has believed in Jesus, Jesus is now his righteous standing before God, or, as Scripture puts it, his Intercessor and High Priest [representative]. As our High Priest is, so are we in this world — righteous, holy, without spot or blemish. [1 Jhn.4:17]