righteousness

it's always a test, if you will, of where my faith is (in Christ's righteousness or my own) when I have been "bad." (if you would allow me to use that terminology.) if understanding my sinfulness leads me down a self-centered tunnel of "try harder" and "i'm a horrible person," then i can be pretty positive that most of my confidence has been in my own ability to be good.

on the other hand, if recognizing sinfulness leads to praise that Christ lived righteously and blamelessly and gratefulness that his death was sufficient for the punishment i deserved, well then that is righteousness by faith.

yes!