Righteousness not Retained, but Received

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." (Matthew 5: 6)

Righteousness is something that we are to desire more than even our food and drink.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6: 33)

Jesus told us to make righteousness the priority, the knowledge and belief that in Christ, we have been declared fully justified.


"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)

Righteousness is not something that we attain, maintain or retain -- but a gift which
we are asked to keep on receiving by faith:

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)

It is the Holy Ghost who supplied this gift of righteousness to us.

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

We do not just have right standing, but we have the same standing as Christ Jesus Himself!

and

"For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

"For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

'But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Hebrews 5: 12-14)

Therefore, make your established status in righteousness (Isaiah 54: 14) your priority every day, for Christ who lives in you (Colossians 1: 27) has been made unto to your righteousness (1 Corinthians 1: 30)