THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

For if, by the trespass of the one man (Adam), death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:17).

Think of the difference between a “gift” and a “sentencing.”  When a sentence is handed down, there’s no choice.  That’s what you get.  That’s what you deserve.  That’s who you are – guilty and sentenced.  That’s who we were “in Adam.”  That’s what we inherited.  We inherited the “death sentence.”  But we also inherited the tendency to sin, the old flesh, the sin nature.  So we deserved to be eternally separated from God and punished for our sin.

But when you’re offered a gift there is choice.  You get to reach out and receive that gift.  It’s in the receiving of the gift that things change.  The gift itself doesn’t change your life, but when you “receive” that gift, you become the recipient of whatever that gift “bestows” on you. 

When you’re born into a family, you’re given a name.  That name identifies you.  You’re given a home and that identifies where you live.  You’re given siblings and you look alike.  The material possessions of the family, the inheritance of the family, the reputation of the family – all belong to you and identify you.  Those things are “bestowed” on you and characterize you.

When you receive God’s grace and the gift of righteousness through faith in Jesus, then what is bestowed on you is a “new identity” and all that it includes.  The Bible teaches that your old identity is put to death.   You’re no longer guilty or sentenced.  If you’re dead, you can’t be sentenced anymore.  You can’t be punished.  You can’t be guilty anymore.  You’re dead.

Now you’ve been raised as a new person with a new identity to live a new life.  You now get to live the resurrected life in obedience to Christ as you let Him live through you.  Now you’re redeemed.  The gift you receive is a life-changer.   It’s an identity changer.   It’s future-changer for you.  It changes everything for you and about you.  The gift is the “gift of righteousness.”  When you place your life in the hands of Jesus, and place your belief in Him for your forgiveness and eternal life, God gives you the gift of righteousness.  At that moment you are placed in right standing with God.  You are made righteous in God’s eyes. 

The sentence of judgment has been removed, and now you are forgiven and innocent and holy in God’s eyes and you forever will be, because Jesus died one sacrificial death for all your sin for all time.

Our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. … For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy (Heb. 10:12, 14 NLT). 

Only God makes us acceptable in His eyes.  Only He makes us righteous before Him.   He alone justifies us through Jesus Christ.  No other one, no religion, no code of ethics, no philosophy, no ideology, nothing else makes us righteous enough for eternal life in Heaven, but Jesus.  Only the gift God gives through faith in His Son Jesus qualifies us for Heaven.  He gives His righteousness to us so that we are made righteous in God’s judicial eyes.  It’s what Jesus did right, because we didn’t and couldn’t.