To be the righteousness of God, you first have to believe in who Jesus is. Romans 10:9 is not about confessing Lord is Jesus and saying a prayer. That confession is that you believe that throughout the scriptures where it reads, “Thus says the Lord,” or “Says the Lord,” that is Jesus speaking. You are also to believe that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, which He did. The next verse is amazing! It’s from your heart that you believe unto righteousness and with your mouth, you have made the good confession unto salvation. That is baptism. “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
May don’t know that the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it (the gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” This is the good news that was spread through the early church. You don’t hear that message today. John the Baptist was teaching the way of righteousness, but many of the religious people then and today still don’t believe. “For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.” Jesus is the King of Righteousness. If you read Hebrews 6:19 through Hebrews 7:3 you will see who He is. God’s throne and His Kingdom are built on righteousness. “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” Both Paul and Peter tell you to live righteousness and that you are righteous. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness––by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” Even the apostle John writes about righteousness. “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” James talks about righteousness. “Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” Most importantly, Jesus talks about righteousness. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
I pray that you go after Jesus’s righteousness. Also, your eyes of understanding be enlightened to what Jesus has done to make you right before Father. “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight–– if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.” If you have heard a gospel that doesn’t make you right with your father, don’t listen to it. Father loves you so much that he sent His Son to pay the price to get you back in right standing with Him. Be blessed, my friends.