Christ Is the End of the Law for Righteousness
By Pastor Joel – Open Heaven Christian Church – Fisher, Arkansas
Many today think they need to stop sinning so that God will accept them. This is farther from the truth because no one could ever please God in their flesh, and everyone has sin, or they are deceiving themselves, according to the scriptures.
Romans 8:8 “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
1 John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
God wants people to stop sinning (Romans 6:6), and through the power of the Holy Spirit, they can overcome it. However, this is a work that the Holy Spirit begins in a person’s life after they are saved. In this study, we will focus on the righteousness that comes from God through faith so that we may understand the order God has established for salvation through Jesus Christ.
A Study of Romans 10:4
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.” — Romans 10:4
What Is Righteousness?
Before we can understand Romans 10:4, we must understand the meaning of the word righteousness.
In Scripture, righteousness means being right with God, standing before Him in a condition that He approves. It speaks of moral purity, holiness, justice, and perfect obedience to God’s standards.
The problem is that no human being possesses this righteousness naturally.
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” (Romans 3:10)
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)
God is perfectly holy, and His standard is perfection. The Old Testament Law revealed God’s righteousness, but it could not make sinners righteous. Instead, it exposed humanity’s guilt and sin.
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20)
The good news of the Gospel is that God has provided His own righteousness through Jesus Christ. This righteousness is not earned by works but received by faith.
“Eventhe righteousness of God which is
by faith of Jesus Christunto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.” (Romans 3:22)
It is “BY FAITH” alone that anyone must be saved.
“even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:5)
Grace is the unearned kindness and favor that God gives as a gift to all who believe and receive Jesus in order to be “justified” made “righteous” before God the father. – “by grace you have been saved”
Because it is God who does the “saving” through His Son Jesus, no one can boast and save that their own righteousness has saved them or justifies them before God.
“8For by grace you have been saved through faith, andthat not of yourselves; it is
the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Romans 3:22)
Part 1: The Old Testament Foretold the Coming of Christ Who Would Bring Righteousness
From the beginning, God’s plan was not to save humanity through the Law but through the promised Messiah – “Christ” the Anointed One.
The Law was given through Moses, but it was never intended to be the final solution to sin. Rather, it pointed forward to Christ.
Jeremiah Prophesied a Coming Righteousness
Jeremiah foretold the coming Messiah:
“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper… and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
Notice that the Messiah Himself would become our righteousness.
Isaiah Prophesied the Suffering Savior
Isaiah described how the Messiah would bear our sins.
“By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” (Isaiah 53:11)
The Messiah would not merely teach righteousness; He would provide it through His sacrificial death.
Daniel Foretold Everlasting Righteousness
Daniel spoke of a future time when the Messiah would:
“…make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness…” (Daniel 9:24)
The Old Testament repeatedly pointed toward a day when righteousness would come through a Person rather than through adherence to the Law.
The Law Was a Schoolmaster
The Law was written to expose sin and point people to the coming Christ.
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:24)
The Law was necessary because it disciplines and directs one to Christ, this is exactly what schoolmaster means. Think of it like a teacher who is teaching you about something else.
Jesus did not come to “destroy” the law because if Jesus destroyed the law when He came into this world then none of us would ever know that we were all sinners, so the law is good because it teaches us that we are sinners and guilty before God. Jesus came to “fulfill” the law meaning to complete it.
“But we know thatthe law is
good, if a man use it lawfully.” (1 Timothy 1:8)
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Lawor the Prophets.I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17)
God’s ultimate purpose in giving us the Old Testament Law was always to bring sinners into a righteous standing through faith in His Son Jesus the Anointed Christ who himself kept the law perfect before God and it pleased His Father in heaven that through his only begotten son God could offer humanity the righteousness of Christ to anyone who seeks the righteousness of Jesus!
Notice who’s righteousness it is that we are to seek – “His Righteousness” …
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)
Why does scripture tell us to “seek” the righteousness of God? Because no one is able to keep the law perfectly, only Jesus was able to do that on our behave.
Part 2: Jesus Fulfilled the Law When He Came to Earth
When Jesus came into the world, He did not abolish God’s moral standards. Rather, He fulfilled everything the Law and the Prophets pointed toward.
Jesus declared:
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17)
Jesus Fulfilled the Law Perfectly
Every commandment that humanity failed to keep, Jesus kept perfectly.
He never sinned.
“Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:” (1 Peter 2:22)
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)
Because Christ perfectly fulfilled the Law, He became the only qualified sacrifice for sin.
Jesus Fulfilled the Sacrificial System
The animal sacrifices of the Old Testament could never permanently remove sin.
“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:4)
Every sacrifice pointed to Jesus.
When John the Baptist saw Him, he declared:
“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)
How is it that Jesus can take away our sin? By becoming the only acceptable person who walked this earth without ever sinning. Jesus’ sacrifice was not only offering to God the Father as a way to forgive our sins, but it was the only acceptable sacrifice for the sin of all the world.
“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19)
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12)
At the cross, Jesus fulfilled everything the sacrificial system anticipated.
Jesus Ended the Law as a Means of Obtaining Righteousness
Romans 10:4 states:
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
The word “end” means goal, fulfillment, completion, and termination of the Law’s role as a means of obtaining righteousness.
No one can become righteous by keeping the Law because no one can keep it perfectly.
Instead, Jesus fulfilled the Law and offers His righteousness to all who believe on Him.
“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested…” (Romans 3:21)
The Law pointed to Christ. Christ fulfilled the Law. Therefore righteousness is now found only in Jesus.
Part 3: How Anyone Can Be Made Righteous Today Through Jesus Christ
The righteousness God requires is the righteousness God provides. No human being could ever stand before God and say they are righteous by their own merits. – NO ONE.
The only way anyone can stand before God and be declared righteous is by confessing that they are a sinner and acknowledging their need for Jesus Christ. Through faith in His sacrificial death on the cross for their sins, God forgives them and clothes them with the righteousness of Christ, making them righteous in His sight by trusting in His death on the cross for their sins and His resurrection from the dead, they receive the righteousness of God as a free gift and are justified before Him.
Christ Took Our Sin
At the cross, Jesus took our guilt upon Himself.
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree…” (1 Peter 2:24)
Christ Gives Us His Righteousness
The great exchange of the Gospel is described here:
“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)
Jesus took our sin and offers us His righteousness if we will accept Him as our savior.
“Butas many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even
to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
Righteousness Is Received only by Faith
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Ephesians 2:8)
A person is not saved by religious works, church membership, good deeds, or law-keeping. No one is good in the eyes of God the Father. In fact, God calls us all evil in scripture.
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your
heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:13)
A person is saved by placing their faith in Jesus Christ alone.
This becomes the start of their journey where Jesus will begin to transform their mind, and will to obedience in God by the power they received when they put their faith in Jesus. (John 1:12)
God Declares the Believer Righteous
When someone trusts Christ, God legally declares them righteous before Him.
“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe…” (Romans 3:22)
This righteousness is available to every sinner who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Conclusion: Why God Calls Everyone to Repent and Believe the Gospel
The greatest issue facing humanity is not merely wrongdoing; it is rejecting God’s provision for salvation through His Son.
Jesus identified the fundamental sin that condemns people:
The greatest sin anyone could commit is rejecting the only hope of salvation through the Son of God by Faith in Jesus Christ.
“Of sin, because they believe not on me;” (John 16:9)
Unbelief in Christ is the ultimate rejection of God’s mercy, God’s sacrifice, and God’s offer of righteousness.
God does not desire anyone to perish.
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise… not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
God calls every person to repent—to turn from unbelief and place their trust in Jesus Christ.
When the Philippian jailer asked:
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30)
The answer was immediate:
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…” (Acts 16:31)
The Apostle did not respond with anything else but faith in Jesus Christ because nothing or anyone else can save – only Jesus by accepting Him and the righteousness God offers all of humanity.
The invitation remains the same today. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12)
Christ fulfilled the Law. Christ paid for sin. Christ rose again. Christ offers the righteousness of God freely to every person who believes on Him.
The question is not whether Christ has done enough.
The question is whether you will believe Him.
When Jesus died on the cross his last words were “it is finished” and what Jesus was declaring is that He bore the punishment that we all should have received upon his own body.
“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said,It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:30)
Isaiah 53:5-8
“5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.”
The scripture is clear, our righteousness comes through Jesus alone. Jesus paid the price by shedding His blood on the cross as the sacrifice for our sin. This is why there is no other name under heaven whereby we “MUST” all because saved by accepting Jesus as our savior.
“And, having made peacethrough the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say
, whether they be
things in earth, or things in heaven.”
— (Colossians 1:20)
“Neither is there salvation in any other: forthere is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” — (Acts 4:12)
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
— (Romans 10:4)
Will you today accept Jesus and His righteousness?
If you pray the prayer of repentance show below, you too can be made righteous before God and be forgiven of all your sins and Jesus will forgive and save you if you will believe the Word of God!
A Prayer of Repentance and Faith in Jesus
Heavenly Father,
I come before You in reverence and faith, acknowledging that I am a sinner and am in need of Jesus to save me and make me righteous.
Father God, Your Word says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). I confess that I am a sinner according to (1 John 1:9), and that I have sinned against You in my thoughts, words, and actions. Above all, I confess the sin of unbelief in not believing on the only Savior whom You sent into the world (John 3:16) to offer me salvation through His death on the cross for my sins.
I repent because Jesus said in (Mark 1:15) to repent and believe the gospel. I repent of all my sins, especially the sin of unbelief, according to (John 16:9).
I acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Your Son, whom You sent into the world to save me according to (John 3:16); that He died on the cross for my sins to make atonement for my sins as stated in (1 John 2:2); that He shed His precious blood for my redemption as recorded in (Ephesians 1:7); and that He rose again from the dead on the third day as declared in (1 Corinthians 15:4).
I confess with my mouth this day and believe in my heart that the Lord Jesus Christ is my Savior. I submit myself to Him as Lord because You sent Him into the world to justify me through His righteous act of obedience and to offer me righteousness before You, Father God.
As I believe in my heart and read aloud Romans 10:9-10, I trust that You will save me according to Your Word:
Read Aloud…
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.“
(Romans 10:9-10)
I confess that I cannot save myself by my own goodness, works, or efforts. I place my complete trust in Jesus Christ alone as my Lord and Savior.
Your Word says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
According to Your promise, Lord Jesus, I ask You to forgive me, cleanse me, and clothe me with Your righteousness.
I receive Your gift of eternal life according to (Romans 6:23). I receive Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord.
Thank You for loving me, forgiving me, and making me a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ and through the righteousness that You freely offer through Him.
Help me to follow You, obey You, and grow in Your truth all the days of my life.
In the mighty name of Jesus Christ I pray,
Amen.
If you believe and prayed this prayer, the angels of God in heaven are rejoicing because you repented of your sins.
Luke 15:10 “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”