RIGHTEOUSNESS

“For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”   (2 Corinthians 5:21)

In God’s perfect nature, one of His eternal attributes is righteousness.  God is absolute righteous and perfection. It is impossible for Him to cause anything that is wrong or harmful in anyway.  He is the standard for all that is right.

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God always acts in accordance with all the other attributes (Holy, Just, Omnipotent, etc.) of His character.  He never expresses one attribute of His character at the expense of another.

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The Bible’s standard (God’s standard) of human righteousness is 100% perfection.  This is expected in very attitude, behavior, thought, and word that we do.  Man, however, in unable in his own efforts to achieve this high standard of perfection; thus man sins.

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Righteousness is possible for mankind only through the cleansing of sin by faith in Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  When we place our faith is Jesus’ atonement on the cross, our sins are forgiven.  But this leaves us only is a neutral state.  It’s when Jesus imputes His perfect righteousness into us (in exchange for our sins) that the righteousness of Christ is seen by the Father.  He, then, declares us totally justified because He only sees the perfect righteousness of Jesus in us, forevermore.  Even though we still continue to sin:

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“There is no condemnation now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit, which brings us life in union with Christ Jesus, has set me free from the law of sin and death.”  (Romans 8: 1-2)

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This is a basic, foundational, belief that many Christians don’t grasp.  Once the righteousness of Jesus is imputed into us, God will no longer condemn us for any future sin!  We should never feel that, because we as Christians continue to sin, that our salvation will be taken away.  It can’t! 

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When we sin, the Holy Spirit will convict us.  When this happens, we turn to God, repent of that sin, and ask God for the strength to take away the desire to sin in the future.  Our salvation never at stake, so we should never feel that our assurance of heaven is in jeopardy.

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When the Holy Spirit convicts people of their sin, He represents the righteous judgment of God.  He assures people about what is right and lets them know that God’s judgement will never fall upon anyone who has the righteousness of Christ in him. 

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“But seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”  (Matthew 6:33)

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Seek God first and His righteousness in everything you do and let God will provide!

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Additional References: Matthew 6:33, 1 John 2:29, Proverbs 21:3