When you go to the Lost and Found closet, you claim what is already yours. You don't have to pay for it. You just say, 'that's mine!' and take it. Like the closet, the gospel reveals what is already yours. What is revealed is a righteousness from God. 'For therein is the righteousness of God revealed, from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith.' Romans 1: 17 

How do you get a righteousness from God? First, separate the two kinds of righteousness: Ordinary righteousness is our kind. Our kind is not the saving kind; nor the grace kind; nor God’s kind. Paul explains our kind of righteousness: 'For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.'  Romans 10: 2-3. 

And then there is God’s extraordinary righteousness.  Paul explains that Christ brings righteousness to everyone who believes.'For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.'  Romans 10: 4  

This special righteousness includes two parts:  Part 1) God does not impute sin. 'Blessed is the man to whom the LORD will not impute sin.' Romans 4: 8.  'For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.' 2 Corinthians 5: 21. 

Part 2) God imputes righteousness without works. 'Even as David also describes the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.' Romans 4: 6

The first to whom the righteousness of God was revealed; the Jews, refused to receive it. The last to whom the righteousness of God was revealed; the Gentiles, have received it. 

Hanging in the closet is the robe of Christ's righteousness.  Will you put it on?