Righteous in Jesus

“For He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2Corinthians 5:21)

The Law exposed sin in our flesh. It didn’t make the provision needed to change mankind. We continued to sin in our dead spirit, dead to God, dead to righteousness and dead to life. “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh;” (Romans 8:3) Those in ancient times who believed in God, who trusted God and the Messiah to come were to be saved after redemption. When Jesus ascended to heaven, He led captivity captive. (Ephesians 4:8)

The term “born-again” is what we use to describe what happened at the cross. The old sinful man died. “For if we have been joined together in the likeness of His death, we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection; knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be destroyed, that from now on we should not serve sin.” (Romans 6:5-6) When Jesus was resurrected, we were resurrected a new person, with a new heart, with a new nature, the nature of God, pure, holy and free from sin. Jesus explained this to Nicodemus. “Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) We are born-again a new creation. “So that if anyone is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2Corinthians 5:17) And we are born-again children of God with His nature. “But as many as received Him, He gave to them authority to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name, who were born, not of bloods, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but were born of God.” (John 1:12-13)

You may say that you still sin. How can one born of God sin? How can one with God’s nature sin? Our spirits are holy and pure, and in constant communication with the Holy Spirit Who is always in union with the Father and Jesus. But our flesh is of this world. It cannot be saved. It will not be in the presence of God. It will return to the earth. It is temporal and not eternal. The flesh desires the things that are not of God. It wars against the spirit. “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. And these are contrary to one another; lest whatever you may will, these things you do.” (Galatians 5:17) The Word of God in our hearts, transforming our minds has power over our will and causes us to act righteously. But when our minds are full of worldly thoughts, it will not fight the flesh, and our will wills us to sin. It is sad to see defeated children of God.  The answer is the Word of God.

This is what Jesus came to do. We are not helpless as before Christ. He has taken our sin so we could be righteous, not merely act righteous. Our Scripture of study reads, “... that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption;” (1Corinthians 1:30). We were made righteous in Jesus. We were made wisdom, sanctification and redemption. It’s all the work of Jesus. As we have victory over the flesh we will become more and more in the image of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:18) This is a continuing process until we are perfected when we face Jesus and leave that flesh here on earth.

Many a pastor teaching this has asked the congregation, “How many of you are righteous?” And not everyone raises their hand. The reason for that is that they know they sin. But we must recognize that in reality, it’s not the real you that sinned. It was your worldly flesh dominating your soul (mind, will and emotions.) Your soul allowed the flesh to dominate. You need the powerful Word of God that is able to transform. The Word of God was spoken and created the universe, the earth and everything in it. It has the power to transform us. “For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

In short, we are righteous, but we need to dominate our flesh. We need to read the Word of God, see less TV, read less books written out of man’s imagination, less social media and spend more time communing with the Lord. I have a challenge; for every hour enjoying the world, spend one hour in God’s Word and in communion with the Lord. It will change your life.