January 29 | The Righteousness of God

Series | The God Kind of Life

Scripture | 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Lesson 29 | The Righteousness of God

Say this out loud, “I am the righteousness of God.  Jesus became what I was-sinful, so I could be who He is-righteous.”  Now repeat it until you believe it!  As a pastor I have righteous anger concerning how the devil keeps people in the “rat race of sin.”

The devil has convinced people that because they were born a sinner they are going to die a sinner and thus sinning is all they can ever do.  Satan teaches people from an early age that temptation to sin cannot be defeated, that if you are tempted to sin, there is no other option but to give in to it and sin.

Also, the devil has gotten religious leaders in Christianity to buy into the lie as well.  Many pastors and leaders teach their people that even after they were “saved” and “born again,” they really aren’t fully saved from the power and presence of sin.  Thus, they still need to be daily saved and daily born again.    

Some people read Romans 7 and believe Paul was teaching that as believers we will always be powerless against the sin that wages war against our mind.  However, they forget to read Romans 8:2 where he boldly proclaims, “…the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”  Therefore, Paul firmly believed that once a person was saved they were totally free from sin and death in their soul and spirit. 

Think of it like this, before Jesus there was no righteousness in you- you were utterly sinful, Romans 3:23.  In the same way, now in Christ there is no sin in you, you are completely righteous.  Therefore, just as much as you were a sinner before Christ is as much of a saint (righteous person) you are in Christ.

Some may ask, what about 1 John 1:8 where he states, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”  However, this is for the person who believes they have no need for salvation- like a Hindu or Buddhist who might say, “I’ve been enlightened, I don’t have any sin."  

Thus, John continues in the next verse in 1 John 1:9 and clarifies, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  Therefore, the one who rightly confesses their sins is made pure and cleansed from all unrighteousness. 

In conclusion, do you believe that when Jesus saved you from your sins, you were really saved from the power and presence of sin?  Do you believe that when you were born again and made a new creation, you were really born again and made a new person?  Do you believe when Christ crucified your flesh and gave you the Spirit of life, your old nature was actually put to death and now you live a new life?  And lastly, do you really believe that when you confessed your sins, that you were literally washed and cleansed from all your unrighteousness?

If you believe it, then live it- because that is who God made you to be!

Reflection | Do you believe you are the righteousness of God?

Action | (1) Remove any bad teaching that makes you believe you are not righteous. (2) Live like who Jesus made you to be by the power of the Holy Spirit.  (3) Lastly, when you sin and act like who you used to be, repent and be cleansed again from all your unrighteousness.   

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Exodus 8:1-9:35, Matthew 19:13-30, Psalm 24:1-10, &Proverbs 6:1-5. Click here to read online.