The righteousness of God

About this episode

This sermon explores the righteousness of God as revealed in Psalm 97, emphasizing Christ's reign and the believer's response to evil in light of final judgment.

This sermon, centered on Psalm 97, unfolds with a profound meditation on the dual realities of Christ's sovereign reign and His imminent return to judge the world. It calls believers to a holy hatred of evil—not out of personal bitterness, but because God Himself is infinitely holy and just, and His people, clothed in Christ's righteousness, are called to reflect His character. The passage motivates this moral imperative by reminding Christians that they will one day give an account of their lives before Christ, not for salvation, which is secured by faith alone, but for the evaluation of their works, which will be judged with grace. Yet the sermon also proclaims the great joy of the believer: the final judgment is not a terror for the righteous, but a moment of public vindication, when God's justice will be fully displayed and believers will be openly acquitted, declared righteous, and eternally blessed. This hope is grounded in the substitutionary work of Christ, whose perfect righteousness covers sinners, making their acquittal not a contradiction of justice, but its ultimate fulfillment.

People in this episode

Host: Pastor Mark O'Neill

Topics covered

• righteousness
• judgment
• Christian faith
• sovereignty of Christ
• moral imperative
• grace

Keywords

• righteousness of God
• Psalm 97
• Christ's return
• judgment
• Christianity
• holy hatred of evil
• grace
• substitutionary work of Christ

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Psalm 97

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