He [Jesus Christ] committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.

— 1 Peter 2:22

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

— 2 Corinthians 5:21

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.

— Hebrews 4:15

But you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.

— 1 John 3:5

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

— 1 John 1:8-9

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Jesus Christ’s grace and compassion be with you.

What is righteousness according to God and God’s words? Righteousness refers to the perfect and unblemished “rightness” of all God is and does. God’s perfect righteousness means that He cannot tolerate sin. People often fail to recognize the seriousness of their own lack of true righteousness. Comparing themselves to others and not God, they feel satisfied if they deem themselves better than someone else. No one realizes his need of Jesus as Savior without first acknowledging his inability to live up to God’s righteous standard.

Jesus Christ is the only person who has lived a perfect sinless life. Everyone else has sinned and continues to sin. Though believers continue to sin like all other humans, Jesus’ blood and righteousness cover their sins and cleanse them from all unrighteousness if they confess their sins. Believers of Jesus Christ are first justified—declared right with God and thus able to have eternal life in His kingdom. Then the indwelling Holy Spirit empowers believers to recognize and repent from sin. Through this ongoing process, called sanctification, the Holy Spirit imparts practical righteousness as God’s children grow to be more like Jesus and eventually conformed to His image.