Being Right

There’s nothing in the world like the satisfaction that comes from being right. When we have an argument, there is nothing better than when we win. There is a sense of vindication, a sense of being right which swells up pride within us. We like being right.

But…

It’s ugly when someone always wants to be right, isn’t it? That friend that cuts you off just to prove that we got the answer wrong. Or the person that tells everyone they got a HD , not to share the joy, but to suck it away. It’s ugly. It’s arrogant. Deep down, we wish that that person would just disappear…

But…

While we’re quietly judging the people who want to be always right, we have the same problem as them. Deep down, we are all arrogant, seeking to prove that we are more right than everyone else. We’re playing a huge game of comparisons, and we always come up on top because those comparisons only happen in our heads. Like…

• “That person cut in front of me on the Freeway. They’re clearly in the wrong!”
• “We’re doing this group assignment my way because it’s the right way, nothing else will work!”
• “That massive fight was senseless. They don’t understand that my way is right!”

But…

The comparison game never give the results we really want. We don’t gain anything by the huge comparison game we play in our heads. Because, when it boils down, we’re just winning that game in our own heads.

That’s why God says plainly about all of us:

There is no one righteous, not even one, no one who understands, no one who seeks God, all have turned away, all have become worthless

Romans 3:10

If we don’t understand that this is opposite to our comparison game, I’m not sure we’re getting what God is saying. God tells us plainly that we’re unable judge. We are unrighteous, we don’t comprehend, and we don’t seek the true God.

God’s righteous requirements are written on our hearts, but, we make ourselves feel good by comparing ourselves to people who seem badder than us. Without the revelation that we’re nothing, that we’re not right, and we don’t understand, we’ll never stop the game of comparisons. God doesn’t want us to compare ourselves with each other, but with his righteous requirements and his Son.

God’s torpedeo

To top it off, God calls people who are like this “Worthless”. This is God’s torpedo to our pride. Worthless is the opposite to pride, which is bolstered when we play the secret game of one-up-manship. God blows up our feeling of self-worth with one word: “Worthless”. Wow, God, what on earth were you thinking!? I’ve got my self-esteem to look after here!

So what does God do about it?

But now…

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the law and prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe

Romans 3:21-22

God makes us right. Not in the sense of “I’m right and you’re wrong”, but in terms of being made right and just by his requirements, not our own. We can’t decide whether we’re in the right, only God gets to do that. And according to his standards we’re all stuffed.

God has given his righteousness to people who believe in Jesus Christ. Which is a tonne of stuff to unpack! Firstly, God requires his people to have their sin paid for, and that only is paid for through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. By dying on the cross, God the Son took the punishment we deserved, being the recipient of the wrath be deserved for sin, in our place. Therefore…

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Romans 3:25–26.

God demonstrates his justice on cross; both punishing sin and providing that righteous atonement to all who believe in Jesus.

Humbled, but righteous

Jesus, dying in our place, as our atonement sacrifice, is humbling. It shows us that we indeed are not right when met with the demands of God’s law. It shows us that God requires punishment for sin. But then, he freely gives his son, as the atoning sacrifice for our sin. God saves us, while still punishing sin.

We cannot say that God forgot sin, or just forgave sin. He has judged it completely and sufficiently on the cross, he poured out his own blood so we don’t have to.

That is extremely humbling. It’s humbling, because despite all the comparisons we make with each other, God has proven to be right in the death of his Son. He’s the one who is just, punishing sin, and the justifier, the one who provides the atoning sacrifice. We are only righteous when we accept that free gift from God. Have you?