Your True Identity (part 3)

 

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

Last time we talked about God covering us with His righteousness, not only covering us, but MAKING US His righteousness. All of this is true because we as believers are now in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17, says “Therefore if any man be in Christ He is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.”

Before study more on this subject, we need to define righteousness from a Biblical standpoint.

Righteousness: 1. The ability to stand in the presence of Father God without the sense of guilt or inferiority. 2. Right- standing with God. 3. Up-rightness. 4. Being Justified (declared to be righteous). 5. A good POSITION with God.

Is it not wonderful to be in a good position with our Heavenly Father? Sometimes we have a hard time seeing ourselves in a good position with God or in right-standing with God. A sense of guilt and condemnation tries to overcome our feelings and emotions at times. Especially when we mess up and make mistakes from time to time. We must realize that God is not angry with His kids. God made a way for you to get right with Him. And that way is Jesus Christ. According to 1John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Unrighteousness where? Unrighteousness in OUR FLESH. Your flesh wants to do its own thing, but your spirit, (the real you on the inside) is alive unto God! So unrighteous acts committed in our flesh does not take away from our righteousness position with God. I heard minister put it this way, “If you mess up, fess up, get up.” when you confess and acknowledge your sin to God and repent, then get up from the feelings unworthiness and declare the truth of God’s Word! “I am the righteousness of God in Christ!” “Sin has no dominion over me!” When Christians are trying to break off from bad habits and the rut of messing up over and over again, The change comes when you see yourself from a different POSITION. What do I mean by position? See yourself not as a sinner saved by grace or a failure or heathen. Instead SEE yourself the way God sees you! It takes faith to see yourself that way. See with the eyes of Faith! God sees you as righteous in His sight! In times past when I have made mistakes, the turning point for me was when I SAW myself as a righteous man of God! A man more than a able to overcome the temptation. See yourself today through the eyes of God.

 

Your True Identity (part 2)

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

What does it mean to be the righteousness of God in Christ? The key to this verse is that our righteousness comes from being IN CHRIST. What does it mean to be in Christ? It basically means that everything Christ is, I am. Everything Christ has, I have. Where Christ is seated, I am seated. In Ephesians 3:19 the Apostle Paul prayed that believers would be “filled with ALL the fullness of God.” Colossians 2:9-10 says in Him (Christ) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in Him.” In other words, everything He is, He is in me! Ephesians 2:6 says that we have been seated in heavenly places in Christ! In light of all these powerful scriptures, we take on or put on His righteousness because we are IN HIM. Isaiah 61:10 says, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness.”

Back in December of 1994, my family and I moved from Tulsa, Oklahoma to start a church in Missoula, Montana. “The Great Northwest” needed the Word of Faith message and the Lord had called us to go take it to it. Now, when it comes to winter, Anyone who has ever lived in Montana knows that the winters can be extremely cold and unbearable at times. It seems that the cold pierces through your body, paralyzing you at times. There is a marked difference between the  weather in Oklahoma vs. Montana I must say. So the first things we had to do was get winter coats that would cover, guard and keep the weather off. It would be foolish of me to go out in -10 degree weather without my winter coat on, the cold wind and snow would take advantage of me every time. The moment I put on my winter coat however, immediately outer elements can no longer effect me. I am covered with the tool designed to keep me warm and safe. I can confidently walk outside and do what I need to do. The same is true of God’s righteousness. Before you were saved, you were exposed to the enemy and his devices. You were of the kingdom of darkness and satan could take advantage of you. However, the moment you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and savior, you were moved into a different kingdom, the Kingdom of God. And God placed His righteousness on you. Not only placing it upon you, but He MADE YOU IT. Sin hasn’t just been covered, but removed by the blood of Jesus! That old nature has been replaced with a new nature. We are new creations in Christ Jesus. We are the righteousness of God in Christ!

Your True Identity (Part 1)

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

In life we have identification. A card or photo ID that identifies us and show who and what we are. For instance if you have a drivers license, that little card you carry in your wallet or purse gives you the legal right to drive a motorized vehicle right? Did you know the same is true in the spirit realm?  As believers and children of God, we have an identity too. It’s the identity that Christ Jesus has given us. It’s an identity more real and true than this natural world can give us. The Word of God says, I have an identity in Christ and it is the position of righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says ” For He (God) has made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Christ.” When Jesus went to the cross of Calvary, The Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6). Jesus LITERALLY was made to be our sin. Every lie, every wrong thought, every wrong action was placed on Him as if he did it. What has always stood out to me is the fact that our Father God had to turn His back on Jesus and reject Him because God cannot look at sin. So Jesus went to hell for you and I. 3 days later He arose from the grave in triumph and victory! Hallelujah!  The Scripture says that NOW we have been MADE the righteousness of God in Him. Jesus took our sin and gave us His righteousness in its stead. Its kind of like giving someone a perfect gift, knowing they have nothing good to give you in return. God looked at His created man and knew the sacrifice would be all on Him. Yet out of His love He freely gave. Remember John 3:16? For God so loved the world that He gave… Gave what? Gave His Son Jesus. And now we get to enjoy all the blessings and promises the Bible promises us including His righteousness. In part two we will talk about what it means to be God’s righteousness.