⁶ But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), ⁷ or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” ⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,

Righteousness—that is what this letter of Paul’s is all about. We read at the very beginning, “For in it [the Gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘But the righteous man shall live by faith’” (Rom 1:17). This was the apostle’s flagship truth, the core of everything he had to teach. He himself wrote that if anyone, even he himself, taught a different Gospel, then that person ought to be eternally condemned (Gal 1:8-9). And so he continues in our passage today to hammer away on this essential doctrine, without apology or exhaustion. He can never say enough and we can never hear enough about it.

The Law of Moses said (see vs. 6) that if anyone seeks righteousness by that Law, he must live by it, in every detail—an impossible task. But righteousness based on faith now speaks, and it says that righteousness does not begin with human effort, with the goal of “ascending into heaven.” One thinks of the tower of Babel and humanity’s efforts to “reach into heaven … and make for ourselves a name …” (Gen 11:4). That puts us into a superior position to Christ Himself, brings Him down to our level. Again, this reminds us of Lucifer, who said, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God … I will make myself like the Most High” (Is 14:13-14). The irony of all ironies is this: God Most High “emptied Himself, taking on the form of a bondservant, and being made in likeness of men … humbled Himself …” (Phil 2:7-8). God came down to our level, despite our sin of trying to attain righteousness by ascending to God’s level!

Quoting Deuteronomy 30:12-14 as Paul does on first glance seems inappropriate since the passage doesn’t seem to speak obviously of righteousness or faith. However, the emphasis there is not on doing the Law externally, but focusing on this task: “to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live” (Deut 30:6). The message of righteousness is close by for everyone, not those religious elite who strive to keep the details of spiritual or moral laws. It is within reach, unlike the perfection of the Law. The righteousness of God in Christ has come down. He died and was buried—but praise God, He has been raised from the dead. It has all been done for us!

Lord, thank You for completely accomplishing righteousness on my behalf.