Yes…but righteousness does not come from human achievement, human advancement, or human involvement. Righteousness comes from the power of God’s Grace and is placed within the character and make-up of the believer in Christ. Righteousness has nothing to do with “self” in any manner. Righteousness is a state of being that comes from God in exchange for your pardon from sin and personal trust in Christ. Righteousness is the guilt free position of a believer in the eyes of God. The guilt free position of a believer is when God’s Grace “removes” the guilty conscience (caused from all past sins) and puts man in “right-standing” with God. Old Testament saints could not testify to this great blessing because Grace never came until Christ died and rose from the grave.
Power for man to do right is given from above. Power for man to quit sin is given from above. Power for man to continue a “right life” is given from above. This is the beauty and power of God’s Grace today in the Church. Righteousness involves God’s Grace and not man for anything.
In society today the religious world has it backwards. They teach righteousness involves man and God. To the contrary…New Testament righteousness is produced by Christ just like forgiveness is produced by Christ. Holiness is produced by Christ because the clean heart is produced by Christ. Believers in Christ are “made” righteous by Christ. Christ was made sin that knew no sin…that we might be “made” the righteousness of God in Him. By the obedience of Christ many are made righteous. Christians are righteous? The Bible says so. Nothing to be ashamed of. The righteous life is a new life because the old you became the new creation created by Christ.
Righteousness is something God gives. The gift of Salvation that no other religion can offer. Righteousness from Christ the fruit of being adopted into the family of God. United in the Spirit. Born from above. A new heart in rightstanding! A new life in rightstanding! No longer unrighteous but clean and holy in the eyes of God. Received within because of a spiritual birth. No human involvement. Not according to the works we have done…but according to who Christ is.
Are Christians righteous? Yes. Why? Because God made them that way! They trusted Christ and God blessed them with righteousness. Great place to be! Great place to live! Just a great state of being! Right in the eyes of God! Simply put, “Christianity is a right life because Christ made you that way”. That’s why Christianity is not religion!
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Amen and amen. You are spot on with this post on Righteousness. It has nothing to do with us. It is a gift of God. Thanks for such a succinct explanation of righteousness. Powerful!
2 Corinthians 5:21 Christ TOOK my sin and GAVE me His righteousness.
What an exchange!
What an amazing God!