Soundly reject false teachings full of works gospel messages. They are old covenant thinking that says you need to try harder to earn God's acceptance and approval... to be righteous through your performance. That's not the true gospel message. That's NOT new covenant thinking.
We don't 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 righteousness in the new covenant. Righteousness, right standing with God, is a gift to belivers, to those who place their faith in only Jesus for their salvation and acceptance.
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2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Romans 1:17 NASB
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: “But the righteous one will live by faith.”
Romans 3:21-22 NASB
But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, [22] but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction,
1 Corinthians 1:30-31 NASB
But it is due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, [31] so that, just as it is written: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
In my personal journey of faith, I once struggled with the misconception that I had to constantly earn God's approval through my own efforts and good deeds. This mindset, rooted in old covenant teachings, created feelings of exhaustion and inadequacy. Learning to embrace the new covenant brought a profound sense of peace and freedom. Understanding that righteousness is a gift received solely by faith in Jesus transformed how I live each day. The new covenant reveals that striving to achieve righteousness by works is not only futile but contrary to the gospel message. Scriptures such as 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Romans 3:21-22 remind us that Jesus took on our sin so we could receive God's righteousness freely. This grace lifts the burden of self-performance and replaces it with faith and trust. Rejecting legalism means embracing a relationship with God that is based on grace and faith rather than performance. It’s important to remember that righteousness is not something to boast about based on personal achievements but something granted through Jesus Christ, who embodies wisdom, sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30-31). Embracing this truth helped me focus on growing spiritually and drawing closer to God, rather than trying to measure up to impossible standards. For anyone feeling trapped by the pressure to earn salvation, understanding the new covenant's grace can be life-changing and spiritually liberating.
