The righteousness we have as Jesus’ disciples is by gift and by grace. We are accounted righteous through faith when we come to Jesus, and we are transformed by the Holy Spirit as we walk with Jesus. It’s as simple as that. We certainly do have a part to play in this, and God will not take our steps for us! It is for us to believe and receive Christ. It is for us to walk with Him in the Spirit, seeking to do good and obey His will. Our part is to choose God, to choose faith, to choose to walk in integrity, looking unto Jesus. Paul teaches, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1) … “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:16-24).