Abram is made righteous

David, I spent a lot of time reading over the middle chapters of Romans about the law and was also struck by the fact that righteousness comes by faith. When Abram believed God it was counted to him as righteousness. Paul makes the point as he writes that Abraham's righteousness came before he was circumcised (if you read back in Genesis 15, you will notice that he is referred to as Abram at the point in time when he is accounted righteousness). This makes him the father not only of Jews but also of Gentiles. I like to view this is foreshadowing of salvation to the Gentiles thousands of years before Christ was born.

"just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works..."
Romans 4:6

Amazing to see someone from the Old Testament times who talks of salvation apart from works.

Chapters 3 and 4 of Romans really confronted where I am finding my own righteousness. After all, Romans 3:10b-11 says, "None is righteous, not, not one; no one understands; no one seeks after God."

That is my starting point with righteousness. Nothing.

"No distrust made [Abraham] waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was 'counted to him as righteousness.' But the words 'it was counted to him' were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also..."
Romans 4:20-24

And here lies our final end-state with regard to righteousness.

"It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification."
Romans 4:24-25

Jesus. Our one and only source for righteousness. Our one constant and true source for security and value.