Christ Our Righteousness • Deshen Daily

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV)

Righteousness is a fascinating word with various colors of meaning in the New Testament. As used above, righteousness is a state of “legal rectitude that satisfies the moral requirements of God’s character.” Traditionally, righteousness is often summarized as “right standing,” “right being,” or “right-doing.”

God made Christ become our righteousness. As discussed in “Christ Our Wisdom,” God did not make Christ become righteous. Christ is and has always been righteous both as God and as a Man who did God’s will perfectly. So Christ did what God requires—He is righteous. Consequently, God did not make Him righteous but instead made Him become righteousness to us. How God made Christ, the Son of God, to become our state of legal rectitude( right standing) before God is an enigma of our redemption.

In making Christ our righteousness, God made become our identity. As people, we all have a sense of our standing( state) before God based on our prior actions. Even more importantly, when God looks at a man or woman, His eyes see a state of being, whether they have done according to His requirements. In Christ, our awareness of our state or standing before God is no longer the result of our actions but is a person. That’s how odd this is, yet this is the beauty of Christianity. And it is troubling how a staggering number of believers still struggle with accepting the simplicity of this truth.

Do you also realize that we did not have to believe this truth to be saved? We obtained the gift of righteousness at salvation by believing Jesus as our Savior and Lord. It is similar to the gift of the Holy Spirit: we did not even have to know or believe in the Holy Spirit to be saved, yet He was given to us at salvation! However, we will never be established in the faith, grow to maturity and live a holy and righteous life without first believing that we stand right before by faith in Christ without doing something right according to God’s requirement.

Whatever righteousness before God is, Christ is that “thing” to you! He is our righteousness. He is the fulfillment of Jehovah Tsikenu. Although this truth is the pillar upon which we stand in grace, it is not easy to accept. However, drill this truth into every fabric of your heart!

What are the two ways of attaining righteousness described in Romans 10:2-10?

Know this truth, believe it, and let it guide your life. Our minds will resist embracing this truth, but we must renew our minds to think God’s way—Christ is our state of being!

Thank the Lord for the gift of His Son.