If my land cries out against me,
And its furrows weep together;
If I have eaten its fruit without money,
Or have caused its owners to lose their lives,
May the thorn-bush grow instead of wheat,
And stinkweed instead of barley. (vv. 38-40)

In this chapter, Job asserts his integrity. All the good works he had done were known to God—God knew Job’s integrity.

The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” (Job 1:8)

But what does it matter if my integrity is better than that of others? Can I demand a reward from God simply because I appear better in my own eyes?

God did not make Job suffer because of his good works. The only way Job could come to understand God’s righteousness was through suffering. We, the saints, are clothed with God’s righteousness—a righteousness that does not come from works. Therefore, the Book of Job powerfully refutes all false teachings about imputed righteousness. The righteousness we have received is greater than the righteousness that could be earned through works.

For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20)

In fact, the righteousness of God is freely given to us apart from works. When I say “works,” I mean those that come from keeping the law. However, there is one work through which the righteousness of God came to us—the cross of Jesus Christ. Did Jesus have to work for us to receive God’s righteousness? The answer is yes. Christ had to suffer and die in order to make us righteous before God.

If our righteousness came from perfectly keeping the law, it would be changeable and conditional, not absolute. But if we are clothed with God’s righteousness, it is absolute and unchangeable. We truly become God’s children, united with Him, just as Jesus Christ is. And this adoption is made possible through Christ and the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. (Romans 8:16-17)

The Spirit of God enables us to understand His Word. We communicate with God through prayer, and He listens to all the prayers of His children—because we have become His children through His only begotten Son.

So they removed the stone. And Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. But I knew that You always hear Me; nevertheless, because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me. (John 11:41-42)

On that day you will ask in My name, and I am not saying to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father. (John 16:26-28)

If we have not earned this title, then it was freely given. Some have received it, while others have not. If grace is not conditional, then our election is not conditional. Therefore, we believe that we were destined to be adopted as children of God even before we were born.

… just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:4-6)