UNDERSTANDING RIGHTEOUSNESS.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:30

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, WHO IS MADE UNTO US WISDOM, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, sanctification, and redemption.

NEW CENTURY VERSION (NCV).

Because of God you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God. IN CHRIST WE ARE PUT RIGHT WITH GOD, and have been made holy, and have been set free from sin.

The subject of "Righteousness" has been largely misconstrued in the Church world over the years. For the most part, majority of church folks have a religious mindset about it.

This explains the reason why so many sincere Christians are frustrated and defeated in their endeavor to live for God.

They had a wrong notion about what "Righteousness" really is. So they thought if they could just pray hard enough, and also beg the Lord some more, He would finally be convinced to make them righteous.

This is due to spiritual ignorance or lack of knowledge on the part of the Christian.

E. W. Kenyon once said, "The instant that you know you are the Righteousness of God in Christ, and understand what this Righteousness means, Satan is defeated!"

Righteousness means the ability to stand in God's presence without any sense of guilt, condemnation, or inferiority. Righteousness is not attainable, but it's obtainable - it's a gift that was imparted to us at the New Birth!

"For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:17).

In the Old Testament, under the law of Moses, righteousness was based on good works. But in the New Testament, in this dispensation of grace, there is a revelation of a New kind of righteousness - "The Righteousness Of Faith" which is based on the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:21,22 WEB

21. But now apart from the law, A RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD HAS BEEN REVEALED, being testified by the law and the Prophets;

22. even the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD THROUGH FAITH in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe...

A great exchange took place on the cross; our guilt and sin was imputed (credited) to Christ, while Christ's Righteousness was imputed to us!

"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 Cor. 5:21).

We've already been made the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!

UNDERSTANDING RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH FAITH GROWS!

RIGHTEOUSNESS AND SANCTIFICATION.

Righteousness should not be mistaken for holiness or sanctification. Righteousness is the believer's Right standing before God which was secured by the blood of Jesus Christ. It's part of the redemption package. 

Righteousness is a gift. There is no such thing as growth in Righteousness. We can grow spiritually; we can grow in Christian character - holiness or sanctification, but we can't grow in Righteousness.

In fact, you won't be any more righteous when you get to Heaven than you are right now.

Sanctification or holiness has to do with the believer's conduct or character. The word "Sanctification" or "Sanctify" conveys the idea of being separated or to set apart for special use or purpose.

Positionally, we have been sanctified in Christ. "...He (Christ) is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and SANCTIFICATION, and redemption" (1 Cor. 1:30). Christ is our Sanctification.

But practically and progressively, it is required of the believer to live a sanctified or separated life.

"Wherefore come out from among them, AND BE YE SEPARATE, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (2 Cor. 6:17).

Holiness should be the believer's lifestyle .

"But as he which hath called you is holy, so BE YE HOLY IN MANNER OF CONVERSATION" (1 Pet. 1:15).

RIGHTEOUSNESS AND SIN-CONSCIOUSNESS.

Righteousness means the ability to stand in the presence of the Father, or demons, or sickness or disease, without the sense of inferiority, condemnation, or sin-consciousness.

Sin-consciousness has robbed so many Christians of their faith and sense of worthiness before the Father. 

Praise God, we have been made worthy by the blood of the lamb!

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, WE CAN BOLDLY ENTER HEAVEN'S MOST HOLY PLACE BECAUSE OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS" (Heb. 10:19 New Living Translation).

E. W. Kenyon also said, "We know that sin-consciousness was a camouflage of the adversary. We are standing complete in Christ, but we did not know it." 

"AND YOU ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, who is head of all rule and authority" (Col. 2:10 BBE).

RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PRAYER.

We can stand in God's presence without any sense of guilt, condemnation, or inferiority. That means the prayer problem is settled. Our righteousness in Christ settles it.

We have a standing at the throne of God, and it is just as good a standing as Jesus Himself, for Jesus is our right standing.

We no longer need to go into God's presence tongue-tied because of condemnation. We don't need to be fear-filled because of ignorance.

Because we have been made righteous by the blood of Jesus, we can come boldly to the throne of grace, and our prayers avails much - powerfully effective!

"...THE INSISTENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS PERSON IS POWERFULLY EFFECTIVE" (James 5:16).

Answered prayer is the privilege of every believer in Christ, and not just a select-few. 

Understanding Righteousness is the solid spiritual foundation for an effective prayer life, and it's the foundation on which faith grows! 

     OVERC🔴MER'S  W🌍RLD 🆖🇳🇬

World Overcoming Faith Gospel Ministry,

Minna, Niger State, Nigeria.

☎️  +234(0)803-551-8255

📩 worldovercomersngr@gmail.com

VISION: We see a Vibrant And Victorious Church firmly, and securely built on the solid foundation of God's Word. Jesus is coming for a Glorious Church. A Church triumphant; a Church walking in the fullness of the victory that our Lord Jesus Christ purchased for us at Calvary.

MISSION:

We exist to bring the Saints to a place of intimacy with God - a place where they can relate with God personally, and intimately. A place where they can build their own faith in God, and stand on their two feet spiritually, regardless of the circumstances, and thus become a bold, and effective witness of His redeeming love, grace and power.

Emmanuel B. Afolabi