ARE YOU RIGHTEOUS?

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith”. – Romans 1:16-17

LIGHT FOR NOW:  When you talk about your reality and identity in Christ, don’t exclude righteousness because that is your present day and eternal status in Christ.

The believer’s identity is only found in Christ. Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”. This is only revealed in the word of God. The word of God shows us:
• Who we are, and
• What we have
James 1:23 “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass”. It shows us our natural face as of birth (salvation). What does the word of God say about righteousness? Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”. To be justified means to be declared righteous, to be declared not guilty. Thus, a believer (anyone who has believed the gospel) is righteous. Hence, righteousness is a gift of grace. Romans 5:17-18 “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life”.
Hence, a believer is righteous by faith in Christ. Faith in Christ, therefore, imparts a status called righteousness. Righteousness is the believer’s state and status in Christ. When you talk about your reality and identity in Christ, you can’t exclude righteousness from the picture – because it is part of your identity and reality in Christ. The righteousness of God is therefore in Christ, and the believer is in Christ; hence, he is in God’s righteousness and has been made God’s righteousness. Glory!

INSTRUCTION:  Declare that you are righteous.

CONFESSION: I am what the word says I am, and I have what the word says I have. I am righteous in Christ, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

QUOTE:  Righteousness is part of your reality and identity in Christ.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 2; EVENING: PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 3