(You Have And Are God’s Righteousness)
By Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
TO THE BIBLE: “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)
LET’S TALK
Stephen was in a church when he heard, for the first time, that God didn’t require righteousness from him. He was in absolute shock because all his life, growing up close to a monastery, he’d heard that God wanted him to be very righteous, by his daily actions and way of living, without which he wouldn’t make heaven! But all that came crashing down the moment he heard the preacher at church teaching from Romans 5:17-21 about God’s gift of righteousness. And that day, he received it! You see, Jesus Christ didn’t come with the law; He came with grace, and brought us righteousness as a gift (John 1:17).
Righteousness is the expression of the will and nature of the Father. He declared us righteous because we’re new creations in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Romans 4:25 lets us know that He (Jesus) “…was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.” Thus, He’s cleared you of all sin. When you heard the Gospel and believed, declaring Jesus Christ to be the Lord of your life, you became the recipient of His grace and righteousness.
You weren’t justified before God because of your own righteousness; no! You stand in Christ’s righteousness; it’s the result of what Jesus did. He came not only to reveal the righteousness of God (the will and nature of the Father) but also to make us the righteousness of God. He’s given you that nature, ability, authority, and ministry, to carry on what He began both to do and teach. He’s endowed you with the gift and ability to reveal and manifest the will, purpose and character of your heavenly Father. What a life!
Go Deeper: 2 Corinthians 8:9; 2 Corinthians 13:14
Speak: Blessed Lord Jesus, thank you for revealing to me the nature of the Father, and making me the expression and manifestation of the Father’s glory, nature, love, beauty, and grace! Your will and good pleasures are expressed through me today, and forever! Blessed be God!
Daily Bible Reading: ONE YEAR 1 Timothy 1:1-20, Isaiah 50-51
TWO YEAR John 6:41-51, 2 Kings 5
Act: Meditate on 2 Peter 1:4 NIV; think on what it means, declare it to yourself, and you’ll live accordingly.