“For being in error as to the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish a righteousness of their own, they did not submit to the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3).
Paul is speaking here of the Jews who, despite their being entrusted with the oracles of God (Romans 3:2), rejected the One to Whom all of their scriptures pointed, and betrayed their Messiah into the hands of the Romans to be crucified. Such was the fruit of their deception into unbelief. Nor are they alone in their apostasy from the living God.
What is Christianity except a “righteousness” that is other than the righteousness of God? Isn’t it another “righteousness of their own”, in which men hand down traditions from one generation to another? Is not the Christ of Christianity “another” Christ (2 Corinthians 11:4)? Isn’t this “another” Christ the fruit of a “different gospel” (2 Corinthians 11:4 & Galatians 1:6)?
Paul writes that Christ is the end, or fulfillment, of the law for those having faith (Romans 10:4); what God has given us in place of the Law is the rhema, the living Word of the living God. “The rhema is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (Romans 10:8); that is the true faith and the true heart of the New Covenant; the living presence of Christ.
Christianity, on the other hand, is what men have made of the teachings of Christ; it is a “righteousness of their own”, as Paul put it. It comes with various doctrines, according to denominational determinations, and is expressed in corporate gatherings that rely upon the priestcraft of men who make “ministry” a professional career choice; in that sense, it is little different from the religion of the Jews.
The righteousness espoused by Christianity is very different to the righteousness of God as made plain in His Word. The righteousness of God is only to be found in Christ, not in ritual, liturgy or any religious ceremonies or observances. “In Christ” is not a theological doctrine, but an actual spiritual dwelling place in this world, the only place where man is enabled to do the things that please the Father; it is the place where Jesus commanded us to “abide”.
Modern Christianity, on the other hand, has established a righteousness of its own based upon its own law, which, although deriving from the logos, is devised and interpreted by men and administered by a priestly caste who rely upon ecclesiastical appointing, rather than spiritual anointing.
There is great danger in following a legalistic religious path, as did the Jews, and as do many Christians, for”whoever are justified in law have been set aside from Christ; you are fallen away from grace” (Galatians 5:4).
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