One of the major themes or truths revealed in the New Testament is that we’ve been made the righteousness in God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:21). It’s the major theme of the book of Romans where it tells us the Gospel reveals the righteousness of God (Rom. 1:16, 17). Romans 1:18‑32 shows the whole world (sinners) guilty before God. Romans 2:1‑19 shows the religious Jews, with the law of God, guilty also. All men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and need God’s gift of righteousness without exception.
The Apostle Paul says the Gospel is a revelation of God’s righteousness; that is, how He makes men right according to His own standard of what is right (or righteous). Righteousness is given as a free gift by faith in the work Jesus did, without compromising His own righteousness in the process of providing it for man.
When God made man he was made in God’s image and likeness. He stood before God as innocent and righteous in His sight. When Adam and Eve sinned they lost that righteousness before God and were guilty in His sight. To communicate to mankind of their need for righteousness and convict the of their guilt before God, He introduced the Law or His standard of righteousness.
The penalty for man’ sin and falling short of God’s righteousness would have to be paid; and righteousness would have to be restored. Only the doers of the Law could be righteous before God but the Law was impossible for a fallen man to keep. The solution was for God to send Jesus to be made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God 2 Corinthians 5:21, “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.” Righteousness could be offered to all who would believe.
Jesus’ DYING for our sins (because our sins were imputed to Him) and Jesus’ DOING of the Law (because His righteousness is imputed to us) is what our faith in Jesus brings us. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness or the end of our self-effort to meet the standard of the law by our works for attaining righteousness by merit Romans 10:4.
Now that we have been made righteous in our spirit, as new creations in Christ, we can live right. Ephesians 4:22-24 says, “22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” You need to know that you can live right because you’ve been made right. Renew your mind to this fact: it is your nature to do right.
Pastor John Rasicci is the founder and Pastor of Word of His Grace Church in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, where we are building people who are building the Church. Pastor's ministry mission is to help people discover God's dream for their Life, the Local Church, and the Last Days' Harvest. With a strong emphasis on the grace of God and with a prophetic voice, Pastor John preaches and teaches in churches, conferences, and crusades both locally and throughout the world. He has produced books, tapes, and other teaching materials to empower, enable, and equip Believers with the Word of God. Pastor John is married to his wife Candy who with their three children, Krista, Joanna, John Anthony, and two son-in-laws, Matt and Doug, serve together in the ministry. After graduating from Kent State University, Pastor John pursued a career in professional baseball before accepting the call to the ministry. He and his wife, Candy, received their ministry training from Rhema Bible Training Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
John Rasicci 
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