For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. Hebrews 8:7, NIV We only emphasize that Christian life we are in is not based on another form of religious ritual but on a covenant. The question is what type of covenant are you in? Is it a covenant of religion or a covenant of love? It should be a covenant of love. Love is a person and that is God (see 1 John 4:16). The covenant we are in is a covenant based on who He is and not on who we are. It's based on what He has done and not on what we have done. When you sign an agreement form, you understand what type of covenant or agreement you are signing in. And this is the reason why still many Christians missed the true essence of Christianity. It's because they don't understand the covenant they are in. In result, many are so called Christians are still living a life like they don't have Christ. There's no real transformation happened. They think Christian...
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. [Proverbs 14:34]
As our scripture says, if sin is a disgrace to any people therefore, we can say righteousness is grace to any people. We notice that righteousness is in the side of grace. Its grace righteousness that exalts a nation. Its grace righteousness that exalts an individual person. Once we understand that righteousness is by grace there, we will be lifted up from the grave situation we came from.
Righteousness by grace is simply believing that only through the finished work of Christ on the cross and not on our works we are made righteous. Righteousness by grace attracts favor that makes a nation, or a person exalted. Personal understanding that only through the blood and sacrificed body of Christ we are only made righteous. That's where we are exalted. The bible says, "He [God] made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." [2 Cor.5:21AMP]
Know that in Christ you are already made the righteousness of God. We don't strive to be righteous. You are not in journey to become righteous. It's a God-given gift paid by the precious sacrificed of Christ. When it is a gift, our only part is to receive it or not. When it is received or believed, it will reflect righteous living. Our believing shapes the way we live. The way we live is only an outcome of what we believe
So, our daily goal is not exalting ourselves but knowing. Knowing that you live in Christ and Christ lives inside of you, have made you the righteousness of God. When you have the daily awareness that you have been made the righteousness of God in Christ, it will reflect righteous life that will attract God's favor. Know that it's all by grace and no man should boast.