The Gift of Righteousness
Looking at Romans, talking about how we make a CHANGE in our lives. Several people had testimonies of such a change in their lives.
Because of Christ, we can CONFIDENTLY and JOYFULLY look forward to our future. For many of us, 2010 was a pretty hard year, and we’re looking forward to a better year this year. But according to Romans, we can have JOY RIGHT NOW.
Romans 5:3 says, from the Amplified Bible: “Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.”
Romans 5: 8-11 says, But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friendsof God.
(Friends of GOD? That’s not “religion” That’s relationship!)
Mercy Brings Grace, and Grace Brings Righteousness.
Verse 18: Adam’s sin lead to condemnation but God’s free gift leads to being made right with God. Even though we’re guilty of many sins. From verse 20… as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.
We have the GIFT of a mercy that forgives and forgets a deserved punishment.
Justification isn’t mere fiction. You really are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Once you say “I believe” where do the scriptures call you a sinner? You have new names. You’re called “new creation”, “believer”, and “saint”. But never again will the word of God call you a sinner.
We are JUSTIFIED as a giftby His grace. (Rom. 3:24).
So have confidence in his word; you really are righteous before God. THAT is worth remembering. And that will motivate you to live righteously. You. Are. Righteous.