This is another of those ‘topics’ that we may talk about and yet have differing definitions… mostly dependent upon our ‘experiences’. I really don’t believe we can self-declare it for ourselves. I know I’ve written about righteousness a number of times because I keep learning more about what it means. I’m going to cut to the chase, my bottom line, so that the following discussion’s context is understood.
My experience and learning is that righteousness has two primary goals – to restore us to relationship with the Father and to help us be effective Ambassadors in our world. I also believe that righteousness can neverbe earned or purchased. Righteousness is part of our gifting when we accept Jesus for who He was and continues to be and what He did and continues to do in lives that accept Him. This forms a somewhat simplistic understanding of how I approach the state and status of – righteous.
Scripture talks about righteousness many times and in many ways. But, do you know what this means for you? Are you aware that relationship with the Father is built on righteousness? And did you know you can’t buy or earn righteousness, that there is nothing you are able to do to attain this state? Righteousness is a gift that is given to us when we turn to the Jesus and make Him our Lord.
One of the scriptures that I stand on, which is critically important to me, as I grow and develop is:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a newcreation,
old things have passed away; behold all things have
become new. Now all things are of God, who has
reconciled us to Himself throughJesus Christ, and has
given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God
was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not
imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed
to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are
ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading
through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be
reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no
sin to be sin for us, that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him.” (2Corinthians 5:17-22)
As you can see, there is a definite purpose for us to be righteous – so we can become His Ambassadors. However, I also believe that a primary reason is that now we can be in relationship. There are so many key concepts in this passage including: anyone, new creation, old things/all things…new, has reconciled, ministry of reconciliation, not imputing, etc. etc. Each of the words I underlined or highlighted defines our BE-ing and Do-ing.
(Yes, there’s more. You’ll have to purchase my next book to read a fuller discussion. However, this brief one can keep you cogitating for days.)
