What does the word 'upon' mean in 'righteousness ... upon all them that believe'?
The word 'upon' means being draped with a blanket or cloak that totally covers a person. It pictures God's righteousness as an outer covering placed over all who believe, so that when God looks at them He sees Christ, not their own righteousness.
Les explains that the word 'upon' is like being draped with a blanket or cloak that totally covers a person. It is God's righteousness, not our own—ours are filthy rags—that covers the believer. When God looks at us, He sees that outer covering, which is Christ; this is what it means to put on Christ. This covering happens by a work of God, not by human effort, because salvation is done in the invisible, in the Spirit. Les compares it to crucifying oneself: impossible, since a person cannot do it. So 'upon' conveys a complete, divine covering of the believer with Christ's righteousness.
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
More Questions
How is God's righteousness given to all who believe?
God's righteousness is by the faith or faithfulness of Jesus Christ and is unto all and upon all who believe.