8.11 You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus
We have established with many verses the difference between righteousness under the Old Covenant vs. righteousness under the New Covenant. There are two kinds of righteousness in the Bible: self-righteousness or God’s righteousness.
Why is this so important? Remember that the basis of your relationship with God hinges upon righteousness. If we pursue self-righteousness of the law, we will end up with self-pride or self-condemnation.
A person with self-pride will display a holier-than-thou attitude. Instead of showing compassion to the sinner, he condemns the sinner instead. But many in the Christian church fall under self-condemnation. They always feel unworthy and unrighteous. This hinders their relationship with God. They feel fearful to come before God.
During a meeting, I asked a group of believers if they were righteous. Some said they were not. Others said they were trying. Yet others say that they are on a journey. Not a single believer could hold up their head confidently to give glory to the precious blood of Jesus that has sanctified them.
So much of Christianity is based on self. We need to bring our eyes back to Jesus in order to walk with the Father. As we wrap up on the topic of righteousness, it is important for each of us to know beyond doubt how God sees us today. Once we get this right, we are on a journey to a deeper relationship with God.
The Bible declares that you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. No “ifs” and no “buts”. It declares “you are”. The only condition is to be in Christ Jesus – to be a Christian.
(2 Corinthians 5:21)
For He [God the Father] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [Jesus].
This is such a powerful verse. Our faith has to be anchored on it. Jesus took our sin to the extent He became sin. He gave us His righteousness to the extent that we became righteousness. Awesome! Whenever you fall, whenever you feel unworthy, if you are backslidden, if you want the power to walk in righteousness, or if you simply want more of God – this verse is your answer.
Tomorrow, we will start to contrast the difference between the system of law in the Old Covenant vs. the system of grace in the New Covenant. We will depend on God’s Word to find the answers.
Why is this so important? Remember that the basis of your relationship with God hinges upon righteousness. If we pursue self-righteousness of the law, we will end up with self-pride or self-condemnation.
A person with self-pride will display a holier-than-thou attitude. Instead of showing compassion to the sinner, he condemns the sinner instead. But many in the Christian church fall under self-condemnation. They always feel unworthy and unrighteous. This hinders their relationship with God. They feel fearful to come before God.
During a meeting, I asked a group of believers if they were righteous. Some said they were not. Others said they were trying. Yet others say that they are on a journey. Not a single believer could hold up their head confidently to give glory to the precious blood of Jesus that has sanctified them.
So much of Christianity is based on self. We need to bring our eyes back to Jesus in order to walk with the Father. As we wrap up on the topic of righteousness, it is important for each of us to know beyond doubt how God sees us today. Once we get this right, we are on a journey to a deeper relationship with God.
The Bible declares that you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. No “ifs” and no “buts”. It declares “you are”. The only condition is to be in Christ Jesus – to be a Christian.
(2 Corinthians 5:21)
For He [God the Father] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [Jesus].
This is such a powerful verse. Our faith has to be anchored on it. Jesus took our sin to the extent He became sin. He gave us His righteousness to the extent that we became righteousness. Awesome! Whenever you fall, whenever you feel unworthy, if you are backslidden, if you want the power to walk in righteousness, or if you simply want more of God – this verse is your answer.
Tomorrow, we will start to contrast the difference between the system of law in the Old Covenant vs. the system of grace in the New Covenant. We will depend on God’s Word to find the answers.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 11:31 PM
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