God's Righteousness

He [Jesus] Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness;
1 Peter 2:24

Death/ sin is clearly contrasted to life/ righteousness.
We can either choose the one or the other. We are either (godly) righteous or self-righteous. There is no middle course. We can either accepts God's judgment or live by our own.

Let me point out some appearances of self-righteousness:
You are treated unfairly/ rejected/ hurt/ ..., so you...

-> "harden" yourself, building up walls of self-protection:
I will NEVER give anyone (him/ her) the opportunity to treat me like that again!

-> refuse assuming responsibility:
Why should I be the idiot?

-> become a perfectionist:
If I don't make mistakes, I'm untouchable.

-> set your own boundaries tight:
No risk, no hurt.

-> control your environment:
If I'm the boss, nobody will dare questioning me. And if they do, I can make them go...

-> become a good girl/ good boy:
If I'm always good and do the right things all the time (i.e. I am perfect), everybody will love me and I'll be save.

Instead of putting on God's breastplate of righteousness, i.e. accepting His judgment about us and others, we protect ourselves with our own totally insufficient "breastplates" to guard our hearts.

The question is: What do I find my identity in?
Is it enough for me to be unceasingly loved and accepted by God?? Or do I need some replacement of and assistance to that?

Just think about it: What might God's answer to the reactions described above be?

When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.
1 Peter 2:23