An exchange took place at the cross: Jesus received our sin, and we received His righteousness. He became sin, and we became the righteousness of God in Him. God turned His face away from Him when the sin of the world was placed upon Him, and Jesus cried out, “My God, why have your forsaken me?” Sin cannot stand in the presence of God: Jesus had to have the full experience of a sinner’s life. When that happened, we received His righteousness, and now stand boldly in His presence.
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21
Righteousness is a state of openness and confidence before God, with no consciousness of sin that restricts access to Him. Jesus, during His walk on earth, showed us what righteousness before God is:
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me… John 11:41-43
Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. John 14:10
To claim righteousness before God is big for man, yet a reality, even though we have not earned it, or grown into it — it is God’s gift to us:
For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption… 1 Corinthians 1:30
Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith… Philippians 3:8,9
If sinfulness is the common culture of fallen humanity, we can safely say that righteousness is the culture of the new creation man and woman. It enables a worldview that sees everything in a different light; to see things through the lens of Scripture and, by implication, the eyes of God. Righteousness is the ability to stand in the presence of holy God without a sense of guilt or feelings of inferiority. It also qualifies you to face your accuser, the devil, who knows all about your past sins and failures, without feelings of guilt or inferiority.
Righteousness is rooted in the complete work of salvation Jesus did on the cross, the fact that He fully paid the penalty for our sin, and that nothing else is needed to be added to it.
And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now it was not written for his (Abraham’s) sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. Romans 4:22-25
Righteousness means you are justified because Jesus paid the penalty for your sin.
For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:13,14
The sinner lives with sin consciousness, always aware of his unworthiness, which disqualifies him from appearing before the Lord, or asking from Him. Sin forms that barrier in both the heart and mind of every sinner, but in Christ that barrier is taken away, and the way to God’s heart is wide open. We are even invited into His throne room:
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15,16
Righteousness produces boldness before God and in the face of our enemy, and replaces the dread of sin-consciousness. This transformation happens when your mind is informed of the change that took place in your spirit, and is what Paul calls the renewing of the mind:
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
Looking at it from another angle, the sinless blood of Christ was sufficient to take away sin from all who believe, declaring them righteous. Failure to fully acknowledge this truth diminishes the blood of Christ, and its ability to do so. Therefore our confession of righteousness is not rooted in our ability to live a sinless life, but is firmly established in the work Jesus accomplished on the cross. It is not arrogance to make that confession, but rather a confirmation of faith in the reality of your redemption.
When God declares you righteous, because He gifted you with the righteousness of Christ, and there is no reason why you should not accept it. You stand under an open heaven. You don’t need someone else to pray to God on your behalf, because you can have your own relationship with Him.
Memorize & Meditate: For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:21
Confession: For God made Jesus, who knew no sin, to be sin for me, that I might be the righteousness of God in Him.
