50 Days of Wisdom

There's no argument we can offer from the nature of our lives, from our morality, or from our religion that will make us right with God. Why? Because all sinners are not only unable to have a right relationship with God on their own, but they are unwilling. It's not attainable, so the plight of man is dark and dismal, and he is bound for hell without remedy. But when it appears, perhaps, that all hope is gone, and the religion of human effort to make himself right with God has been utterly rejected, a light breaks through the darkness. Romans 3:21, "And now, apart from the Law, the righteousness of God has been manifested." Hope breaks through the sinner's horrendous despair. And this verse is a welcome transition. We've had enough of the ugliness of sin, chapter 1, verse 18, where the wrath of God is revealed from heaven. And that's not talking about eschatological wrath, eternal wrath, or consequential wrath; whatever a man sows, he reaps. That's talking about the wrath of abandonment that cycles through human history, where God continually pours out judgment on people and nations because they know God, but they glorify Him not as God. They descend into sin, and they create false gods. And He turns them over to immorality, homosexuality, and then a reprobate mind. And if you ever wondered what a reprobate mind would look like, it's on full display today by those who claim that there are more than two genders. But that's the cycle of human history. It's all about judgment on sin, individuals, and collections of individuals throughout history. The darkness of chapters 1:18 through 3:20 is thick and foreboding. But here in verse 21 is a welcome transition, the dawn of hope: "But now, the righteousness of God has been manifested." Listen, the righteousness of man is inadequate, right? In fact, Isaiah said, "All our righteousness is as filthy rags." That means a man's relationship with God can't be made right by anything done on the human side. Therefore, if you want to be right with God, you have to have a righteousness that comes from God. This is the essence of the gospel, folks. You can't be right with God based on human righteousness. The only way a man can be right with God is by the very righteousness of God. The light doesn't come from below, and not from within, but from above. This is God to the rescue. Look, if I'm going to be right with God, I have to be perfect, as my Father in heaven is perfect. But that's not possible. I can't develop that level of righteousness. I can become a monk and contemplate my navel as if that were a holy exercise for the rest of my life. I could live in a monastery or a convent, read Scripture and pray all day, flagellate my flesh, and crucify myself. But none of that has any value whatsoever, because the righteousness I need is divine. The only acceptable righteousness is God's own righteousness. So the answer to the question "What does a sinner need to be right with God?" is that he needs the righteousness of God. And this righteousness is different. It differs from any other righteousness. The righteousness that we need has to come down from heaven. It's that righteousness of God, which is divine and perfect, which belongs to God Himself, created by God and manifest in Christ, which Peter calls "the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ." Folks, this is at the heart of the gospel. If you're to be right with God, you have to possess the righteousness of God. It's the righteousness of the Son of God. It's therefore distinguished from all other righteousness. It's a perfect righteousness. Jesus came into the world, and He manifested and demonstrated that righteousness. In fact, theologians talk about the active and passive righteousness of Christ. The active righteousness of Christ is that righteousness manifest in His living. The passive righteousness of Christ is that righteousness that was demonstrated in His dying. Jesus shows us the righteousness of God by living a perfect life. And He shows us the righteousness of God by dying a substitutionary death. We see the righteousness of God on display in His life. He was perfectly obedient to the Law of God, fulfilling its precepts perfectly. And we see the righteousness of God on display in His death. And in His death, He perfectly fulfilled the required penalty of the Law for sin. And the good news is that the righteousness of God is available to sinners through Christ. So, what must a sinner do? Repent and believe! GTY.org (TM11-2) – The Gospel Satisfies the Sinner's Need

Today's Wisdom

Day: 1034

September 19, 2026

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Grace and peace,

My name is Mark Paul from Wauchula, Florida, and like the Apostle Peter said in 2 Peter 1:14, "I know that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent." Consequently, my goal is to leave a legacy that will continue to advance the kingdom of God long after I have departed. In other words, bear fruit for eternity. And by simply reading and sharing my free eBooks, you too become contributors to the advancement of His kingdom. Thank you for partaking in this endeavor, and I look forward to greeting you on heaven's shore.

The Truth in Love,

Mark Paul - Servant of God

Now grant, O Lord, that when the souls who read these books cast their eyes upon these lines, their minds may be illuminated and their consciences convinced and awakened, that they may see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and be converted so that You may heal them. Amen!