Righteousness

“The words ‘It was credited to him’ were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness – for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.” Romans 4:23-24
Righteousness is a state of being accepted by God. It isn’t something that is inherent to man, nor is it something that can be earned. Instead, it must be credited to us, and this works the same way now as it did in the Old Testament with Abraham.
Abraham and his wife Sarah were old and past the point in life where they could have children. But God promised Abraham that he would have a son, and through that son would come the Messiah to save the world from sin. Abraham believed God and righteousness was credited to him.
If we share in this faith, we are called the children of Abraham. Like Abraham, our bodies are dead because of sin. We have faith in God’s promise of resurrection through Christ, in “the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were” (Rom. 4:17). If we believe in Jesus, we too, like Abraham, have moved from death to life.