“For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
The Crisis - Many people are trying to do the right thing, yet they fail miserably. Why? Before you can do right, you must first be made right. But even after that happens, many people still fail when it comes to righteous living. How can that be, since they have been made right? It’s because they are living wrong.
True righteousness can never be achieved by living according to a Biblical code of ethics—doing right versus wrong. Right living can never be accomplished by human efforts, no matter how good they are. Your natural strengths, talents, or abilities can never enable you to do good enough.
The Cure - There is only one who has ever lived right—the Righteous One Jesus Christ Himself. He is the only one who is truly righteous! Thus, He alone is capable of living right. That is why it was necessary for Christ to come to Earth. We were made wrong in Adam, and we needed to be made right in Christ.
Jesus Christ, the one who makes us right is the only one who can enable us to live right. Therefore, God makes us right in Christ in order that we might then live right through Christ. Jesus Christ is our sole source of righteousness . . . for life and for living!
The Cross - How did God make this possible? When Jesus Christ was crucified upon the cross, although He had never sinned, He willingly gave up His life by becoming sin for us, and then died as us. The perfect Son of God became the sinful son of man. Jesus Christ took your place and became you upon the cross—an amazing miracle!
Christ became what you were—sin, so that you might become what He is—righteous. Your righteousness is derived from the Righteous One as a result of your union with Him. Christ became one with you in death in order that you might become one with Him in life.
The Crossover - This is the great exchange! Jesus Christ exchanged His life for your life, so that you could exchange your life for His life. When you make that exchange God places you in vital union with Christ. By virtue of your union with Christ, you are made righteous in Him.
The Conclusion - Christ has been made unto you righteousness. Therefore Christ is your righteousness. So you are the righteousness of God in union with Christ who is your life! “But of Him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30 AKJV). Therefore Christ is your righteousness. So you are the righteousness of God in union with Christ who is your life! This is your new identity in union with Christ!
Your privilege is to allow the Righteous One, Jesus Christ, to live His righteous life through you. And that’s living right!
Dr. Lewis Gregory Source Ministries © 2006
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