You Are the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus

Benefits of Righteousness Part 1

[Rom 8:1; 5:9; 6:18; Ps 27:1; 1Jn 4:18]

When God justifies, he declares the believers in Christ to be righteous in His sight in spite of their sin. death on the cross pays the penalty for sin, and God credits the perfection of Christ to the believer. He accepts us as though sin never existed.

No Condemnation Or Guilt

Rom 8:1 (NASB) –Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus.

“No” is the first Greek word in this sentence. It is emphatic, “NO condemnation” (The KJV words “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” do not belong here according to the best manuscripts. There are no conditions for us to meet.) The basis for this wonderful assurance is the phrase “in Christ Jesus.” In Adam we were condemned. In Christ there is absolutely no condemnation!

The verse does not say “no mistakes” or “no failures,” or even “no sins.” Christians do fail and make mistakes, and they do sin. And so did the saints of old. Abraham lied about his wife; David committed adultery; Peter tried to kill a man with a sword. To be sure they suffered consequences because of their sins, but they did not suffer condemnation.

The law condemns, but the believer has a new relationship to the law, and therefore he cannot be condemned. Paul made three statements about the believer and the law, and together they add up to no condemnation.

• The law cannot claim you, verse 2.
• The law cannot condemn you, verse 3.
• The law cannot control you, verse 4.

Freedom From Judgment

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. We see this back in Romans 5:9;

Rom 5:9 (NASB) –Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

“Much more” Paul uses this phrase three times in this chapter (cf. Rom 5:10,15,17), to contrast our past sinful state with our present, justification. If God loved us so much while we were still sinners, how much more does He love us now that we are His children (cf. Rom 5:10; 8:22)?

We have been justified (vindicated, declared righteous, not guilty) by the blood of Jesus, and we shall be saved (future deliverance) from wrath (future condemnation), including the tribulation, hell, and the lake of fire (see, Jn 5:24; 1Thes 1:10, 5:9; Rev 21:8)!

Rom 6:18 (NIV) –You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

By an act of faith, you begin to think not of your sins and shortcomings, but of your righteousness in Christ. God has forgotten your sins. Why should you continue to think about being unworthy?

You have been made worthy by Jesus Christ. “Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Col 1:12). Thankfulness is a characteristic of the Spirit-filled life (cf. Col 3:17; Eph 5:20; 1Thes 5:18).

God has qualified us, made us competent (2Cor 3:6) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints. (i.e., the kingdom treasures that belong to believers (cf. Eph 1:7).

It is not your works but your faith in His works. We must exchange our old sin awareness for a RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD awareness.

No Fear

You have nothing to fear. David said,

Ps 27:1 (NKJV) –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?

What joy will fill your heart the day you realize “If God is for us, who is against us?” (Rom 8:31).

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, and desires your best.

God has given you the gift of righteousness because of His love for you.

1Jn 4:18 (NKJV) –There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

A loving father does not want his children to be so fearful of him that they are afraid to talk to him. He desires your respect, reverence, and obedience, but he wants you to feel comfortable in coming to him (see, Fear of the Lord, outline).

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” (Heb 4:16). “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2Tim 1:7).

Prayer:

Thank you, Father, for qualifying me to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. People fail, make mistakes, and they sin. But you, Lord, are my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? My strength and my life are in the Lord.

I have a sense of righteousness and confidence because God has truly forgiven me of my sins. I benefit greatly because of righteousness, amen.

God bless you my friend,

— Dwight Hammond