All the righteousness there is in this world is relative. All the goodness there is in this world is relative. In other words, there is no righteousness; there is no goodness. Both psalmist and apostle told the truth when they said: “There is none righteous, no, not one.” “There is none that doeth good, no, not so much as one.” Rom. 3:10, 12. And hence follows: “All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.” Verse 23. Righteousness is perfect harmony with a straight line, an undeviating standard. But in all humanity some imperfection is found. Jesus said: “None is good save One, even God.” Men not having the perfect standard among themselves compare themselves among themselves, measure men by imperfect standards, and so count them righteous. That is, A is as good or better than B. C is better than D. The same method creeps into the church of Christ. Truly, as the apostle declares, those who so do “are without understanding.” 2 Cor. 10:12. The only standard of righteousness is God’s eternal, unchangeable law of righteousness. The only perfect Example is the Son of God, who walked the earth in human form and flesh. The righteousness of God is the righteousness He requires of us who never did righteousness. The goodness He requires of us who never did goodness is His goodness. We can not work it out. We can not develop it. There is no inner secret mine within ourselves whence it may be brought forth. How may it be obtained? It is not so hard as it would seem; it is not so hard for the unrighteous. It is ours by the free gift of God. “But now apart from the law a righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction.” Rom. 3:21, 22. It is all by faith; and faith is yielding all to God, giving all to the complete harmony of His will; yielding all to its great, infinite depths, and heights, and breadths. We do not know it. We can not, with sin-dimmed vision, see the breadths and heights of the vast reaches of righteousness. Our sin-dulled ears can not hear all God’s harmony of sound. But we can see some, hear some; and by faith, by choice, by purpose, we can yield to all. And when we do that, whoever we are, God clothes us with the righteousness wrought out in the character of Christ Jesus, and regards us as tho we had never sinned. “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not reckon sin.” Rom. 4:8. The most sinful may come and obtain it. The least sinful, the “comparatively righteous,” must get it in the same way. All before God are wanting. All in Christ Jesus may be made complete. Col. 2:9. And all He asks of us is that we shall yield by faith. To Him only is the praise. There is no boasting in birth or breeding, in race or color, in works or penance; all is of His wondrous mercy; He is “Jehovah our righteousness.”