“My Righteousness is Just as Good as Jesus’ Righteousness, because it IS Jesus’ Righteousness!” — E.W. Kenyon
When Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome, the Apostle Paul hatched a Plan. He traveled amongst the Churches and recruited seven men (Acts 21:8) to train in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3) for an ambitious task of starting a gentile Church in Rome. The Church in Rome was not founded by Paul but rather by the stealth team of gentile believers he sent in to do the job. When the Church got up and running, Paul wrote them the letter of Romans, outlining the foundations of Jesus Christ.
In the first three chapters of the Book of Romans, Paul lays out the state of the world before the cross. Paul describes three groups of people, the outright wicked, the Religious Hypocrite and the Jews. He explains that all have fall short and God has Concluded All men under sin, that he may have mercy on all (Romans 3:10-19). Midway through Chapter 3, Paul explains the wonderment of what has happened in Christ Jesus to humanity; that The Righteousness of Jesus Christ has come to All men as a gift from God.
Romans 3:22 (King James Version) 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:
By the faith OF Jesus Christ, the gift has been given to All Men, by our faith IN Jesus Christ; we enjoy the fruits of Righteousness in our lives apart from our good works. Later, in Chapter 5, Paul put it this way, Romans 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Even though the use of the word “Many” is used, we must ask ourselves, “how many were made Sinners in Adam? All.” So how many were made Righteous in Christ, the second Adam? The answer follows that it must be all. You have been made as Righteous as Jesus Christ by Grace and not by doing good works, repenting, confessing or any other religious activity. It is a gift that has come upon all men that we trust in by faith (Romans 5:18 ).
Paul draws this conclusion after he has presented the case of man’s guilt and the wonderment of what Christ has done on our behalf.
Romans 3:28 (King James Version) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Knowing our Righteousness, is an important part of our relationship to God. It is the reason that the Holy Spirit constantly reminds us of our right standing before God by his Blood. If we are unsure about the righteousness we have been given, we will not want to fellowship with God and draw from the Life of Christ in us. Nothing is more freeing or brings more boldness than knowing that you are in Good Standing with God. As the book of Proverbs says, “The Righteous are Bold as a Lion.” (Proverbs 28:1b), and we need bold believers if we are to manifest the Kingdom of God in this world.
Matt Chandler Sermon Jam on our Right Standing before God.