Our Righteousness: Like Filthy Rags

Is my faith in my works or is it in Christ? Is it in God's goodness or in my own righteousness?
     
"The sorrows of those who run after other gods shall multiply..." (Psalm 16:4). When many hear the words "don't serve other gods", we automatically think about idols, money and people, but many of us are serving our works and we take joy in being good people... We worship our works in little sorrowful ways. The more we worship our works and we start believing that we are worthy or loved through them, the more restless we become and the more frustrated; and the moment we fail, the condemnation comes and our sorrow increases..
         
        Paul addressed this issue perfectly, "You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified!  The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard?   Are you so foolish? Although you began with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort?   Have you suffered so many things for nothing? – if indeed it was for nothing.  Does God then give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law or by your believing what you heard?" (Galatians 3:1-5)
     
         Do not get me wrong, faith without works is dead and we've been called to work out our salvation; but the Salvation itself is free, we did nothing to earn it. The thing that happens through our faith in Christ is godly deeds, a changed heart and a changed life. Our deeds/works cannot and will never save us, we can only be saved through our faith in Christ.

       Do you want to be considered "good" or "righteous" before God? Then put your faith in Christ for you can only be justified through Him; only through your faith in Christ can you receive the righteousness of Christ. "For our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead" (Romans 4:24)

    And when it comes to working out your faith, look to Christ and learn from Him what it means to be godly. Let Him live His life of righteousness, humility, obedience, love and submission to God through you.

-Yetunde