Who and What a Christian Really Is Part 4 – Righteousness

Now we’re delving deeper into more complex truths from here on now. This is important to know now, how that we are the righteousness of God.

What does that mean?

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness (Greek: dikaiosunē) of God”
–2 Corinthians 5:21

That’s a heavy one right there, and you’re about to understand why, because this is one of those complex verses of scripture that have been explored very little by so many ministers; so many Christians have barely even understood this portion of scripture…and it’s for a reason. This is different from being made righteous. This particular verse is saying we have been made the righteousness of God.

Notice the Greek word in parentheses “dikaiosunē” (pronounced dee-ka-yo-soo-nae) means “equity”. It means the quality of fairness or impartiality. So that word there translated “righteousness” means “equity”. It means we are God’s proof of is fairness and impartiality; we are the manifestation of his equity

“To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God…”
–Ephesians 3:10

That means he wants all principalities and powers to look at us and judge that he’s fair. It’s my sincere hope and prayer that you understand what I mean by this: that God is showing us as trophies of his goodness. Now because this is super important I want to take you through a portion of scripture:

“But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus”
–Romans 3:21-25

Now I understand that reading may not have been clear at first sight for most of you so allow me to elaborate. He says he proves himself to be just while he justifies a sinner. The Bible is saying Jesus Christ, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus has proved himself to be just in justifying the sinner. Now how can he justify a sinner?
This part is going to sound a little strange for most of you, but for all of those that will get this then, wow, you just deserve a free copy of my next book.

“He (Jesus) was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification (Greek ‘dikaiosis’)”
–Romans 4:25

I hope you got that. Because that what you read right now, it’s just way too big.

It says Jesus Christ was delivered for our offences and raised, not for our forgiveness, or cleansing or redemption (can you imagine that? Because it should have been for our forgiveness) but, for our justification.

So the question then is how? How in Jesus Christ’s most holy name was I an offender then suddenly I wake up the next moment and he says I have been justified?

Observe the Greek word “dikaiosis” meaning an acquittal (a formal declaration of innocence).
Just thinking about this sends shivers down my spine. This means at one point God looked at me and considered me an offender, but now he looks at me and says “Not Guilty”—now in case you still haven’t gotten it yet, he doesn’t mean he looks at me now and says “forgiven”.

But how is that? It should have been that at one point he looked at me and said “offender” and now looks at me and says “forgiven”; that I was guilty but someone has paid the price and now I’m forgiven but NO! He says “not guilty” in other words he means “I was never and have never been guilty” BUT HOW?

Even as I sit here in my room typing this analogy I still don’t understand how—WHY?! How could I have been an offender and now I’m innocent and not forgiven for having been an offender.

Jesus carried my sins and died for me, so I should have said Jesus has paid the price for me to be forgiven (thus I have paid in Christ right?), but No. You see, that’s not the same thing as being acquitted; it’s now not that I have paid or served rather I have been acquitted (formerly declared innocent): He is pretty much saying I never sinned at all—HOW?
See this is why so many people never understand the gospel, because of statements like this: how is that possible that it could be that I never sinned?

“Therefore, since we have been justified (acquitted, declared righteous) through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”
–Romans 5:1

I seriously hope you understand it now and if not please do feel free to contact me personally concerning it because this is the most important thing in the whole of Christianity!

“Talking about being born again brothers and sisters, never take it lightly; it means you have been acquitted
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
–2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

That’s the only way the person who should have been called a forgiven offender could be declared “not guilty”
Now I understand I’ve loaded you with so much information concerning this subject and for now I’d rather let it rest and give you a more detailed analogy in later books.
So that’s the fourth one right there: A Christian is the righteousness of God. So onto the next one!