Romans 5:1 Amp ''THEREFORE, SINCE we are justified acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
When you declared Jesus Christ, Lord over your life and became a born again, His righteousness was imparted to you. You didn't become righteous by your works/deeds; you became righteous by the grace of God through faith.
Ephesians 2:1-9 "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; [2] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
[3] Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
[4] But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
[6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
[7] That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Notice in verse 8, ''For by grace are saved through faith''. The righteousness of God comes by faith. ''Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:'' (Romans 3:22).
The righteousness of Jesus Christ was imparted to you when you believed in Him. You are as righteous as Jesus is. This might be hard for some Christians to accept but the word of God is very clear about it.
2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV ''For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.''
When Jesus died on the cross, there was an exchange, He took our sins and gave us His righteousness. Therefore, we (Christians) were made the righteousness of God in Christ.
However, after being born again, you may not 'feel' righteous, you may still have the urge to do the evil things you used to do, and you may even find yourself struggling to live a righteous life.
You have to understand that man is a spirit, having a soul and living in a human body. When you are born again, your soul is saved, your spirit is born again (righteous) but your body is not born again. Your body/flesh entails your five senses and your relation with it to this world.
As a Christian, you do not walk by the dictates of your body, you walk by the guidance of the spirit. The bible says in Romans 8:5-8 KJV ''For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. [6] For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. [8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
A born again Christian who is still living by the dictates of his flesh is unskilled/inexperienced in righteousness, and he is a baby christian. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:1-2
''And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. [2] I have fed you with milk, and not with meat....''
He referred to them as ''babes in Christ'' and he had to feed them with milk, and not of meat. Why? Hebrews 5:14 sheds more light
Hebrews 5:13-14 KJV ''For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. [14] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.''
The bible didn't say that the baby christian is not righteous, No, the baby christian is unskilled and inexperienced in righteousness. He doesn't know how to exercise the righteousness of God that resides in him.
In order to fully exercise the righteousness of Christ in him, he needs to be trained by God's word in order to grow to full age. Verse 14 of the above scripture emphasizes on it ''But strong meat belongeth belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil''
The Amplified Bible renders it as:
''But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.''
We have been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. The righteousness of Christ was imparted to us when we became born again. And as we grow in the knowledge of God's word, we express that righteousness in us. Glory to God! God bless you.
FURTHER STUDY: Romans 3:28, Romans 4:5
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