Breastplate of righteousness: His righteousness, not our own

Isaiah 64:6 | We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.

• What is wrong with our own righteousness or our efforts to “be good” and without sin? 

• Why do we fall short of being righteous? Who was the only one who lived perfectly righteous? 

2nd Corinthians 5:21 | For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

• Why did Jesus commit to living a righteous life, even when tempted? 

• How does Jesus make a person righteous, or right in God’s sight? 

Titus 3:3-7 | Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

• Titus 3 explains life before Jesus and then being declared righteous because of faith in Jesus. Have you experienced the change represented in this passage? If so, when, how, and what changed?