Imputed Righteousness - a gift!

 

The author of today’s devotional reading says that few Christians really understand the meaning of Christ being our righteousness. Is that true? Or are there many people who call themselves Christians and simply have not had any revelation from the Holy Spirit about this and are trying to live the Christian life without the rebirth and imputed righteousness that comes as a gift from God?

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17–21)

These verses describes what happens when a person is truly saved. Their life is changed because Jesus takes our sin and gives us His righteousness. As the Bible says,

God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:28–31)

I have heard boasting. Proud voices say, “When I chose Jesus” yet Jesus says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” (John 15:16)

Salvation is a work of God. A genuine believer cannot repeat words like justified or made righteous as part of some religious vocabulary nor have a vague idea of what this means. These are truths God reveals. We can forget them at times (when flesh takes over), but because of the Holy Spirit, we know that His new life has even given to us.

The devotional writer rightly says “I cannot explain it theologically” yet speaks of righteousness as a supply we can draw from God when needed, as if behavior is the only meaning of righteousness. New life does change a person’s way of doing things, but it is first a statement of who we are in Christ. His righteousness is not a mere commodity to draw on in fresh supply as if it were a jug of milk or a head of lettuce. It is a declaration of how God now sees me because of this great trade made by Jesus Christ when He bore my sin and died for it.

The Bible essentially tells me who I am in Christ and how to live as who I am. It does not list the character traits of Jesus as something to draw on when I feel like it, but this is my new nature and He has given it to me. Because of Jesus, I am righteous, holy, set apart for Him. It was His choice to grant this, not anything I did or can boast about. Faith believes it, and faith glorifies the One who gives it.

PRAY: Jesus, if nothing else I am reviewing Your admonition to “defend the faith” as I read and try to understand ideas that put the onus on people for the work that You alone can and will do. To say I can draw a fresh supply of goodness when I need it is a sad understanding that makes some if not all of Your saving work my responsibility rather than Yours. Perhaps those who think this way have trouble with the “low and despised” part of salvation’s description and need something to boost their ego. I don’t know. All I know is that You saved me — for no other reason than it was Your choice to grant me forgiveness and new life. How can I express my gratitude other than glorifying You for what You have done?!