TO THE BIBLE: Romans 5:17
“For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)”
LET’S TALK
Even after he had been born again, Matthew still felt he wasn’t as righteous as he ought to be. Sadly, there are Christians today, who, like Matthew, feel they fall short of the standards of righteousness. But that assumption is far from the truth. When you were born again, the righteousness of God was automatically credited to your account.
You shouldn’t try to be righteous, because you were born righteous the moment you received Christ. It’s not based on what you do, so it’s pointless to try to impress God with your “good works.” The Bible says it’s “Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:9 KJV).
As far as God is concerned, your righteousness is legal. “How could this be?” you may ask. The Bible says “(Abraham) did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith…therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone that it (righteousness) was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification” (Romans 4:24-25).
Jesus was delivered to death for your offences, and raised back to life for your acquittal. And now, because of your faith in Him, you’ve been formally declared not guilty. God no longer charges you with any offence. You’re now a new person, with the life and nature of God, having no past (2 Corinthians 5:17). You’ve been imparted with God’s righteousness to reign and rule in life. Glory to God!
Go Deeper
Pray
Dear Lord, I pray that the light of your grace, that brings salvation, will shine brightly in the dark places of the earth as the Gospel is unveiled to them, that men and women therein would be turned from darkness to light, and become partakers of your grace and love, in Jesus’ Name. Amen!
Daily Bible Reading
ONE YEAR
1 Timothy 6:1-21, Isaiah 61-63