Jesus is Your Righteousness
In 1 Cor. 1:30, the Apostle Paul makes a declaration about Jesus to be our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
If you only read verses like this for their poetry, you will miss what Paul is saying. This is distinct language conveying vital truth that can change your life. Paul is saying that righteousness is not worked out in your life according to your character or actions but based on who Jesus is on the inside of you. You are righteous not because you are a good person but because you have accepted Jesus as the standard by which you have a right to come before God’s throne. If you understand Jesus as your righteousness, you will know that being a good, moral person does not enhance your standing before God, neither do your failures detract from your standing before God. Your place in God’s family isn’t founded on who you are or what you have done but who Jesus is and what He did for you 2000 years ago. The emphasis is upon the PERSON of Jesus, not anything you bring to the table. Jesus Himself made a statement similar to this in the Gospel of John:
[Jhn 14:6 KJV] 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Notice what this verse says. Jesus IS (in His person) our way, truth, and life. Doctrine can be true, but Jesus in His person is our truth. His is our way. We don’t need a set of principles or a twelve-step program to come before God. We don’t need some method or set of protocols by which we come before Him to be heard. He is our way, our method. Don’t let anybody get you wrapped up and held captive to some spiritual methodology of belief or prayer as though you MUST do thus and so to be heard on high. That would be a lie for your way is a person; your truth is a person, and your life is a person, and His name is Jesus. There is great freedom for the believer in this if you can get it and understand it.
Jesus is our righteousness. That word righteousness means to “stand upright.” God doesn’t want you groveling in His presence. Jesus in His person makes it possible for you to stand upright before God as a co-heir with Christ. There is entitlement in that truth. I usually get e-mails from people when I say such things because they say, “I deserve nothing.” True in yourself, you have no standing before God, but in Christ, you can stand upright in His favor for He is in His person, your righteousness. When you understand righteousness through the person of Jesus, everything you say and do becomes as effective as if Jesus said it and did it for God is backing you up every step of the way – in Christ’s stead.
Jesus is your wisdom. You can have the IQ of a turnip and still have all the wisdom you need for your wisdom is not based on learning or the ability to learn complex doctrinal understandings. Your wisdom is a person, His name is Jesus, and having Him in your heart, you have the wisdom of God Himself.
He is our sanctification. Sanctification is not about living some perversely religious lifestyle. The word sanctify means to “separate from and draw unto.” Jesus in you separates you from the world and draws you to the Father. God holds Himself responsible to be the drawing influence in your heart to cause His nature, purity, and character to be reflected in your life.
Jesus is your redemption. We are not saved because we believe certain things like the trinity, etc. We are saved because of Who lives on the inside of us. Our doctrinal understanding might be in development, and we might even have some misconceptions that are totally doctrinally in need of correction, but your salvation is not based on your beliefs but upon Jesus in His person living on the inside of you perfecting you, teaching you, shaping you into His perfect image and understanding.
Embrace the indwelling Christ today. Know that He in His person is your way, truth, and life. He, in His person, is your righteousness, wisdom, sanctification, and redemption. Having Him, you have all things that pertain to life and godliness. You can relax. You can lean on Him. You can trust Him.
