Righteousness Revealed

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,^[e] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”~ Romans 1:17

It's strange to think that in all that precedes 'the gospel' (in as much as the gospel must be explicit regarding Christ)  the Righteousness of God is not revealed.
Not in the creation account,  nor in the narratives of Judges,  Kings and the exiles.  Not in the prophets or the wisdom or the psalms.

God may have shown himself to Moses,  but even Moses did not see the full righteousness of God revealed.

That privilege was reserved for us who would hear about Christ Jesus.

Wow.

And more specifically,  in his death and resurrection.

We often see righteousness and mercy as being at odds with eachother.

But at the cross they meet in perfect synchronicity.

You see,  righteousness that only ends in out judgement,  is not true righteousness.

For God is righteous and he is merciful.  And his mercy never compromises his righteousness.  And his righteousness is never aside from his mercy.

His righteousness is merciful.

His mercy is righteous.

In his righteousness he showed us mercy at the cross. And in the person of Jesus both wrath and compassion have their fulfilment,  at his expense.

In Jesus,  full righteousness is revealed.  Not merely the wrath of Sodom and Gamorrah.  Not only the mercy of the Ark.  But the full righteousness of Almighty God.

Tomorrow we will look a little more at wrath.  For God's holy wrath against sin is the only context for our redemption.

But today we want to just wonder at God revealed to us.  In his Holiness,  in his mercy,  in his love; in Jesus.

Lord we thank you, for your righteousness,  seen in the mercy you showed to us in Christ.

We are in grateful awe,  and ever will be,

This day,
And all days,

Amen