Easter reminds us that Jesus died on the cross for our sin because God is holy and righteous. Consequently, Easter points to the holiness and righteousness of God.
“The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).
Because of sin, not only did physical death become a reality but also eternal, spiritual death … separation from God.
Why? — Because He is a holy and righteous God who cannot stand in the presence of sin. Hebrews 12:14 says “without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
The sin problem must be taken care of in order for a holy and righteous God to enter into a relationship with people. That’s what happened at Easter.
Jesus died and took our sin upon Him so that we could be made pure. When God looks at those who have accepted His Son, He no longer sees their sin but rather Jesus’ blood which covers them.
“But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight.” (Col. 1:22)
“And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Heb. 10:10)
Looking at How Easter Points to the Holiness and Righteousness of God Teaches Important Truths
So, what does Easter teach us about holiness & righteousness?
- Easter reinforces that keeping God’s laws cannot make us holy. “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin” (Rom. 3:20). As verse 27 says, “Where, then, is boasting?”
- Easter reminds us that we are all in the same lost condition and all in the same need of a Savior. “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:22-23). To think we gain God’s favor over someone else because we are “better” than them is pure foolishness. Apart from Jesus, we would all get F’s on the test, even if someone seemed to do better than another.
- Easter emphasizes that apart from a work of God in our lives to impute that holiness on us, we will always miss the mark. “There is no one righteous, not even one … This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. . . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:11-23). How absurd for us to think we can ever live up to the just demands of a holy God in and of ourselves.
When we trust in the work Jesus did on the cross, we stand righteous and holy in Him. We are thus called to “to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace” (2 Tim. 1:9). The state of our lives does not always match our standing. What will it take for us to be holy as He is holy? Perhaps Colossians 3:12 provides a clue:
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Col. 3:12)
Notice the phrase “clothe yourselves.” The idea in these phrases is that we are putting on something that is not a natural part of us. The garment of righteousness we put on is His. The key to being holy, then, begins with realizing our need for Him to work in and through us.
Holiness and righteousness are just two of God’s many attributes. Get alphabetical listings describing who God is in the Our Great God from A to Z Discipleship Tool Download.
Looking for Curriculum for Teaching Over the Easter Season? Go To: Bible Lessons for Easter
“We preach Christ crucified … Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is our righteousness, holiness and redemption” 