GALATIANS 5:5
“For we, through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.”
In our normal, everyday thinking, when we hope for something, it means it may or may not happen. I’m a hunter, so each time I go into the woods to hunt I hope I am able to bring home some meat. It may or may not be there. My skills as a hunter may or may not help me secure the game I am hunting. It is never a sure thing, but I still have hope.
That is NOT what Paul is referring to here when he says, “the hope of righteousness.” Paul understood and taught that we are made righteous the moment we receive Jesus as our Savior. Paul even said so in Romans 1:16-17. “16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: ‘BUT THE RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH.’”
APPLICATION
So, why did the Holy Spirit inspire Paul to say this in today’s verse? What is this “hope of righteousness”? The Cambridge Bible says this about it – “It may refer to that sanctifying righteousness which is progressive, ‘inherent in us but not perfect’, the perfection of which is the aim and end of our earthly discipline.” In other words, Paul is saying the perfect righteousness is promised to us and we will receive it.
Then the question must be asked – what is this righteousness? What does it mean to be made righteous? Short answer is it is the approval of God, what God deems is right. Wow! I am now and will be perfectly right in God’s eyes. Why don’t I have that perfect righteousness now? Because I still live in a sinful world and in this wicked, fleshly body. When I reach heaven, though, I will have a perfect, glorified body free from sin.
1 Timothy 6:11 tells us, “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” This verse, of course, applies to every believer, not just men. And how about the words of our Lord Himself in Matthew 6:33? “‘But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’” Rest assured, beloved, you are righteous and will be righteous.
Praise You, O God, for Your righteousness that is poured out on me.