Salvation in the OT and NT

 

 

This verse and many others present us with interpretive problems. They suggest that we can attain righteousness by merely pursuing it on our own:

 

• Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. (Proverbs 21:21)

 

However, other verses teach that righteousness and salvation are a free gift from God through faith merely by believing in Him:

 

• And he [Abraham] believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6; John 3:16)

 

Are there two ways to attain righteousness and salvation—one by our good deeds, the other as a gift through faith? Scripture tells us that there is no way to earn salvation:

 

• yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (Galatians 2:16)

 

How then do we interpret Proverbs 21:21? First, we need to note that there are many other verses like this one:

 

• He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; (Romans 2:6-7; Matthew 5:20; Hebrews 12:12).

 

• “But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” (John 3:21)

 

This latter verse is particularly illuminating. It provides an order of events: 1. God draws many by first giving them a heart that truly desires righteousness. 2. Consequently, God leads them to the truth through His gift of a changed heart.

 

How does this happen? It might start as a quest for self-righteousness. However, if God is in this process, the seeker will realize that he can never attain righteousness but only condemnation. He is convicted of his sins and knows that he deserves death (Romans 6:23; James 2:10; Matthew 5:22). Consequently, he cries out for God’s mercy and forgiveness, and God reveals Himself.

 

For the majority, righteousness is simply a matter of show, as Jesus had warned:

 

• “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.” (Matthew 6:1-2)

 

In contrast a God-given desire for righteousness is a gift:

 

• “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6)

 

From where does this “hunger and thirst for righteousness” come? It can only be received as God’s gift.

 

• …Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith [by trusting God for it], but as if it were based on works. (Romans 9:31-32; Luke 18:14)

 

They had hardened themselves to the voice of their conscience (Romans 2:14-16; 1:32). Consequently, they didn’t even believe Moses (John 5:42-47). Therefore, in their self-righteous quest, they had little need for the righteousness that could only come from God.