Righteousness simply defined is RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD. It gives you the ability to be free of guilt, condemnation, fear, and inferiority. These four problems rob many Christians of God’s blessings, It is easy to see why an understanding of
righteousness could transform your life. Imagine: no guilt, no fear, no condemnation, no inferiority. What a blessed life that would be!
Righteousness Is a Gift
There is a world of difference in a man’s self-righteousness and the gift of righteousness from God. Self-righteousness boasts in itself, but the gift of righteousness can boast only in the finished work of Christ.
For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS will reign in this life/through the One, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17
Jesus Bore Our Sin
The human race owed a tremendous debt of sin. Because mankind was unable to pay its debt, God sent His own Son to pay for it (1 Peter 2:24). Jesus was your substitute. He took your place. He paid the awful price for your sin. He did it because
He loved you (John 3:16-17).
Now that the debt is paid, you are given a right standing with God. It is actually the right standing that Jesus earned as a result of His obedience unto death. You receive His righteousness the moment you take Him as your Lord and Savior. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
If Christ dwells in your heart, you have the righteousness of God. You are made to be the righteousness of God in Him.
Righteousness for All Who Believe
I had a struggle with the idea of being righteous because I was well acquainted with the scriptures declaring man’s sinfulness. What I did not realize was these scriptures refer to men who do not receive Christ. Since all men are sinners, the gift of
righteousness is available to all who believe on Jesus Christ.
But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD,
THROUGH FAITH in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:21-24
Receiving Righteousness by Faith
Righteousness is actually received at salvation. Because many have not understood the righteousness of God which is by faith, they have failed to experience the full joy of God’s gift.
The message of righteousness is good news. The moment you hear this word, it should cause faith to rise up in your heart. You want to receive. It is yours – a gift from God. You must BELIEVE and CONFESS. “For with the heart one believes unto
RIGHTEOUSNESS, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10)
No Condemnation or Guilt
A sense of righteousness gives you confidence that God has truly forgiven you of your sins. You begin to see that the judgment and condemnation that you deserved fell on Jesus. You have been justified (declared not guilty) because of the blood of Christ that was shed for you (Romans 5:9).
“There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). You are freed from sin, with all its guilt and condemnation, so that you may become the SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (Romans 6:18).
By an act of faith, youbegin to think not of your sins and shortcomings, but of your righteousness in Christ. Why should you continue to think and talk about your unworthiness? You have been made worthy by Jesus Christ. He has qualified you to “be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Colossians 1:12). It is not your works but your faith in His works.
No Fear
Righteousness is right standing with God. If you are in right standing with God, then He is not fighting against you. He is on your side. He is for you. He desires your best.
What joy will fill your heart the day you realize, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). Yu have nothing to fear. David said, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of
whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)
God has given you the gift of righteousness because of His love for you. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made prefect in love” (1 John 4:18).
A loving father does not want his children to be so fearful of him that they are afraid to talk to him. He desires their respect, reverence, and obedience, but he wants them to feel comfortable in coming to him. God invites you to “come boldly to the
throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:1y6). “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
No Inferiority
Occasionally when someone is asked how they are doing, we hear them respond with these words : “Under the circumstances, I think I’ll make it.” As a Christian, thank God, you do not have to be under the circumstances. In fact, after you receive the
abundance of God’s grace and His gift of righteousness, you are to reign in this life by Jesus Christ.
Because you have a right standing with God, you do not have to feel inferior to the powers of Satan. You are an heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17). As you receive the righteousness of God, you become partakers of the divine nature of
God (2 Peter 1:4). His strength has become your strength. His ability is your ability.
His life is your life.
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but CHRIST LIVES IN ME; and the life which I now live in the flesh I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Continual Cleansing from Unrighteousness
As a Christian, you may miss the mark and sin. Sin is unrighteousness. It is not pleasing to God. It must be dealt with. The best time to do this is immediately if not sooner. Do not wait to repent. The promise of God is, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to FORGIVE US OUR SINS and to CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS” (1 John 1:9). “The BLOOD of Jesus Christ His Son CLEANSES us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
Our Prayers are Effective
With a right standing with God, you can come boldly into His presence with your praises and petitions (Hebrews 4:16). One of the most important things you must do as you enter into God’s Presence is to be sure your heart is cleansed from all sin. This comes by faith in the cleansing power of the blood of Christ.
After you know you are cleansed, you can have confidence in your prayers. “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God” (1 John 3:21).
God delights in hearing the prayers of His righteous children. “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3:12). Evidently, if you are not righteous or if you are not seeking God’s righteousness, your prayers will not be very effective.
Thank God, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much “ (James 5:16). God will hear and answer your prayers if you maintain your right standing (righteousness in Christ) by faith.
