God's Attributes Reflected in Us预览

Jesus’ righteousness for us

“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, […] the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” (Romans 3:21-22)

God recognizes that we have all done wrong. Nobody has kept His commandments. Nobody is righteous. But God opened up a way for us to be free. God’s laws still stand, every sin and misdeed must be punished. But Jesus Christ was ready to bear this punishment in our place. Through His suffering and death, God’s wrath was satisfied. God’s righteousness requires that our sins be punished, but also makes it impossible that they would be punished twice. So, if we accept Jesus’ offer of forgiveness, we do not have to bear God’s wrath ourselves anymore. It has been dealt with by Jesus Christ. That way, God can be “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26)

Jesus’ offer goes even further than taking over our sins. He offers us His righteousness. He “became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:30) When we are united with Jesus Christ through faith, God sees us as if we were completely righteous. He considers us holy and perfect.

Did you already accept Jesus’ gift of righteousness? What does this mean to you?