Performance- vs. Depravity-Based Righteousness

 Performance- vs. Depravity-Based Righteousness


In all the world there are only two paths to "righteousness."  The most popular, by far, is "performance"; and the road "far less traveled," is by an acknowledgment of absolute, total personal depravity apart from Christ.

The "performance" path is doomed before the first act is embarked upon.  The "depravity" way, as it finds its perfect analog in Jesus Christ's righteousness, is crowned with glory, salvation, life, forgiveness, love, and all good things (all in Christ).

Those who conceive of themselves as only "circumstantially" sinful, i.e. only as guilty of bad habits or actions, are far from the kingdom of God--in fact, they are lost.  Only those who honestly know themselves to be "constitutionally" wretched, even infinitely-guilty sinners in the sight of God, are candidates for gospel grace in Jesus' blood and righteousness.

In our natural pre-Fallen condition, we were made to be performers.  But, ever since the Fall, performance can do us no good--in reality, it only condemns us.

The Scripture's insistence on good behavior both calls forth God's perfect standard (thus condemning us); and it fully-assumes regenerating faith (in those who, by grace and for God's glory, keep any of God's law).

The "performance" way is easy; the "depravity" way is hard, impossible (in the flesh), and miraculous in Christ's gospel grace. 

Let us be numbered among the depraved/redeemed; and not among the performance/damned.

Rev. Mark J. Henninger

Treatise #92

17 April 2026

https://theologicaltreatisesinretirement.blogspot.com

https://henningerdevotions.blogspot.com/

Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 17, 2026 at 8:28 AM

    Mark,
    What a comfort it is that Jesus Christ has always been completely perfect and always will be- on our behalf. How foolish to boast of our own righteousness or good works, as we so often do. Thank you for the encouragement to look to Christ as our only hope of righteousness.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rev. Mark J. HenningerApril 17, 2026 at 11:04 AM

      Thank you. Boasting of anything or anyone other than Christ is foolishness. Good works are truly good; but they are only evidence of regeneration. We can have no trust in works--since our performance has no place in our justification.

      Delete

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