According to the scripture above, Christ Jesus has been made unto us righteousness. When God looks at us who believe in Jesus, He sees us as righteous, because Jesus has become our righteousness. He was delivered unto death for our offences, and was raised back to life for our justification (Romans 4:25).
Isaiah 53:5-6 says, "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all..." Jesus bore all the pain, shame, torture on your account. He took upon Himself all what you were supposed to suffer so you won't have to go through them anymore. What a glorious divine exchange! He took your place of sin that you might obtain His righteousness: "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"(2 Corinthians 5:21).
God didn't make him a sinner; rather, He made Him the very embodiment of sin, so that you would become the righteousness of God in Him! Your righteousness is the righteousness of Christ. Little wonder the inspiring words of the Prophet Jeremiah: "In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jeremiah 23:6)
You're as righteous as Jesus is righteous! He has made you the very expression of His righteousness. This isn't something you attained by yourself, it was given to you as a gift (Romans 5:17). Isaiah 54:17 also underscores this glorious divine exchange: "...This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. "
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for sending Jesus to bear my sins, and present me holy and unblameable before you! I thank you for making Christ Jesus, who knew no sin, for me that I might not only receive righteousness, but become the expression and epitome of your righteousness, in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Rhapsody of Realities March 1st, 2011
-Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
Trelan's notes:
Pastor Chris showed us that though we were not righteous on our own accord, we were made the very Righteousness Of God, by his grace.
But what does that mean, exactly? Righteousness means the very rightness of God. It is the ability to be right itself.
You know how people often say "God can do all things"? Well that's not exactly true... Shocking? Well there is one thing God cannot do: God cannot lie. If he lies about anything it will automatically become true! He is God! His Word creates. He is right only.
So how does His rightness become yours? Through grace. He has allowed you to give yourself over to him, exchanging your flawed 'self' for His Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth.
As a result, if you've made a mistake or done a wrong, you can ask his forgiveness in contrition, and reap his forgiveness instead of the a harvest of destruction.
Some people think that judgement occurs only after they leave the earlthy realm, but your words and actions produce a sowing and reaping effect. Some cultures call it "karma".
"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment"(Matthew 12:36).
The "day of judgement" is that day when "the chickens have come home to roost"; the day when the actions you've been taking, regarding a specific thing, creates a natural reaction, good or bad.
Reaping destruction is what you would be subjected to had you not become the righteousness of God. So when you're caught in the middle of harsh circumstances, it is your duty to declare: "I am the righteousness of God! I have the life of God in me! No weapons fashioned against me shall prosper!"
By becoming His righteousness, you now have the ability to change circumstances like God does. Isn't that awesome? Bless God!
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