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Christ's Finished Work and Righteousness in Salvation

The concept of Christ's finished work and righteousness in salvation centers on the belief that Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection fully accomplished all that is necessary for humanity's redemption and right standing with God. This finished work is understood as the basis for justification, which is God's act of declaring a person righteous [6].

Central to this understanding is the idea of imputed righteousness. The prophet Isaiah predicted this, stating, "I will bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off" (Isaiah 46:13). The New Testament further reveals this as "the righteousness of God, without the law" and "the righteousness of God by faith in Christ" [3]. Paul writes in Romans 10:4, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" [4]. This means that Christ himself becomes righteousness for believers (1 Corinthians 1:30), and through him, believers are "made the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21) [3]. This righteousness is not earned through human effort but is a gift received by faith [6].

The Bible consistently teaches that justification before God is not achieved through human works or obedience to the law [6]. While the law requires perfect obedience, humanity cannot attain this (Romans 3:20) [6]. Instead, justification is "freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24) [7]. It is "not of works" (Acts 13:39; Galatians 2:16) and specifically "not of faith and works united" (Romans 3:28; Galatians 5:4) [6]. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, emphasizes that salvation is not brought about by "works of righteousness which we have done," even those done after conversion [16]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist/Wesleyan commentator, similarly states that justification comes through Christ, "from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" [17].

Salvation, therefore, is "by faith alone" (John 5:24; Romans 5:1) and "of grace" (Romans 3:24) [6]. The Tyndale House commentary on Titus 3:5 highlights that salvation is "through faith in God’s mercy alone," contrasting it with human actions that might be thought to merit salvation [10]. This grace is so profound that believers are "made alive together with Christ" (Ephesians 2:5) and "united with Christ Jesus," sharing in his glory and blessings [9, 14].

While good works are not the cause of salvation, they are its intended result [11]. God "created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us" (Ephesians 2:10) [11]. These "fruits of righteousness" are "by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:11) [2]. They are "wrought by God in us" (Philippians 2:13) and are performed by those who "abide in Christ" (John 15:4-5) [1]. The Holy Spirit, working through a transformed heart, produces a good life (Galatians 5:22-23) [11, 15]. This transformation involves stripping off the "old sinful nature" and putting on a "new nature" in Christ [13, 15].

The righteousness of God itself is described as an everlasting and abundant part of God's character, exhibited in his laws, judgments, and ways [5, 8]. Christ, as the "Son of Righteousness," loved righteousness, fulfilled all righteousness, and brought in an "everlasting righteousness" (Daniel 9:24) [8]. This finished work of Christ means that believers are no longer strangers but are fully accepted into God's family, becoming children of God [12].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Works, Good — Christ, an example of -- Joh 10:32; Ac 10:38. Called Good fruits. -- Jas 3:17. Fruits meet for repentance. -- Mt 3:8. Fruits of righteousness. -- Php 1:11. Works and labours of love. -- Heb 6:10. Are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God -- Php 1:11. They alone, who abide in Christ can perform -- Joh 15:4,5. Wrought by God in us -- Isa 26:12; Php 2:13. The Scripture designed to lead us to -- 2Ti 3:16,17; Jas 1:25. To be performed in Christ's name -- Col 3:17. Heavenly wisdom is full of -- Jas 3:17. Justification unattainable by -- Ro 3:20; Ga 2”
  2. Philippians “Philippians 1:11 (Geneva1599) — Filled with the fruites of righteousnesse, which are by Iesus Christ vnto the glorie and praise of God.”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Righteousness Imputed — Predicted -- Isa 56:1; Eze 16:14. Revealed in the gospel -- Ro 1:17. Is of the Lord -- Isa 54:17. Described as The righteousness of faith. -- Ro 4:13; 9:30; 10:6. The righteousness of God, without the law. -- Ro 3:21. The righteousness of God by faith in Christ. -- Ro 3:22. Christ being made righteousness to us. -- 1Co 1:30. Our being made the righteousness of God, in Christ. -- 2Co 5:21. Christ is the end of the law for -- Ro 10:4. Christ called THE LORD OF OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS -- Jer 23:6. Christ brings in an everlasting righteousness -- Da 9:2”
  4. King James Version “[KJV] Romans 10:4 — For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Righteousness of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ps 7:9; 116:5; 119:137. Described as Very high. -- Ps 71:19. Abundant. -- Ps 48:10. Beyond computation. -- Ps 71:15. Everlasting. -- Ps 119:142. Enduring for ever. -- Ps 111:3. The habitation of his throne. -- Ps 97:2. Christ acknowledged -- Joh 17:25. Christ committed his cause to -- 1Pe 2:23. Angels acknowledge -- Re 16:5. Exhibited in His testimonies. -- Ps 119:138,144. His commandments. -- De 4:8; Ps 119:172. His judgments. -- Ps 19:9; 119:7,62. His word. -- Ps 119:123. His ways. -- Ps 145:17. His acts. -- J”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Justification Before God — Promised in Christ -- Isa 45:25; 53:11. Is the act of God -- Isa 50:8; Ro 8:33. Under law Requires perfect obedience. -- Le 18:5; Ro 10:5; 2:13; Jas 2:10. Man cannot attain to. -- Job 9:2,3,20; 25:4; Ps 130:3; 143:2; Ro 3:20; 9:31,32. Under the gospel Is not of works. -- Ac 13:39; Ro 8:3; Ga 2:16; 3:11. Is not of faith and works united. -- Ac 15:1-29; Ro 3:28; 11:6; Ga 2:14-21; 5:4. Is by faith alone. -- Joh 5:24; Ac 13:39; Ro 3:30; 5:1; Ga 2:16. Is of grace. -- Ro 3:24; 4:16; 5:17-21. In the name of Christ. -- 1Co 6:11. By imputation of Ch”
  7. Romans “being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; -- Romans 3:24”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Righteousness — Is obedience to God's law -- De 6:25; Ro 10:5; Lu 1:6; Ps 1:2. God loves -- Ps 11:7. God looks for -- Isa 5:7. Christ Is the Son of. -- Mal 4:2. Loves. -- Ps 45:7; Heb 1:9. Was girt with. -- Isa 11:5. Put on, as breast-plate. -- Isa 59:17. Was sustained by. -- Isa 59:16. Preached. -- Ps 40:9. Fulfilled all. -- Mt 3:15. Is made to his people. -- 1Co 1:30. Is the end of the law for. -- Ro 10:4. Has brought in everlasting. -- Da 9:24. Shall judge with. -- Ps 72:2; Isa 11:4; Ac 17:31; Re 19:11. Shall reign in. -- Ps 45:6; Isa 32:1; Heb 1:8. Shall execute.”
  9. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:5: 2:5 gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead (literally made us alive together with Christ): Joined with Christ, believers share in his resurrection, now and in the future (see 2:6; Rom 6:4-14; Col 3:1-4). • It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved: See Eph 1:2; 2:8-9.”
  10. Titus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Titus 3:5: 3:5 not because . . . but because: The contrast is between human actions that might be thought to merit salvation and God’s grace (see Gal 2:16). Salvation is through faith in God’s mercy alone (Eph 2:8). • He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth: See Ezek 16:9; John 3:1-15; Eph 5:26; Heb 10:22; 2 Pet 1:9. • and new life through the Holy Spirit: This signifies a complete departure from the life of sin and death and a transfer into the realm of life and purity (see also Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 5:17; Col 3:10).”
  11. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:10: 2:10 He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us: Good works are the result, not the cause, of salvation. God’s Spirit, working through a transformed heart, produces a good life (Gal 5:22-23).”
  12. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:19: 2:19 Gentiles who believe are no longer strangers and foreigners (2:11-12, 17). Through Christ, they are fully accepted into God’s family. They become children of God, just like believing Jews (see Rom 8:14-17).”
  13. Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 3:9: 3:9-10 your old sinful nature . . . your new nature: Paul contrasts old and new identities (see also Rom 5:12-21; 6:6; Eph 4:22-24). Believers strip off their old life and put on Christ’s new life, allowing him to be Lord and to guide the way they live.”
  14. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:6: 2:6 united with Christ Jesus: Because of this union, believers share God’s glory and blessings, and experience resurrection both now and in the future (see Rom 6:4-14; Col 2:12-13; 3:1-4).”
  15. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:24: 4:24 A believer has a new nature: God’s Spirit expresses his life within the believer (see Col 3:10; cp. Gen 1:26; Rom 12:1-2; Gal 5:22-23). The transforming work of God’s Spirit is part of the gift of salvation (Eph 2:8-10).”
  16. Titus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Titus 3:5: Not by works of righteousness which we have done,.... The great instance of the kindness and love of God our Saviour is salvation; which the apostle denies that it is brought about by any works, even the best works of men; for "works of righteousness" are works done according to a righteous law, and in obedience to it; and in a righteous manner, from right principles of grace, in faith, and with a view to the glory of God; or otherwise they are not righteous actions, or works of righteousness; wherefore not works before, but after conversion, are here meant; for works b”
  17. Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 13:39: And by him - On his account, and through him, all that believe in his Divine mission, and the end for which he has been manifested, namely, to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, are justified from all things, from the guilt of all transgressions committed against God; from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses; because it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, or any other rite or service of this kind, could take away sin from the soul, cancel its guilt in the conscience, or make an aton”
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