Good morning righteous ones!

When we become born again, we receive God’s gracious gift of RIGHTEOUSNESS, which is right standing with Him. The only thing we ever have to do to receive this gift is to accept it. We receive it by faith, just as we receive salvation. From this point, God wants us to develop our faith until we completely trust Him, more than we trust ourselves.

See, the level of power we operate in as believers is determined by whether we believe we have right standing with God. Romans 1:16-17 (NLT) says,

• For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes – the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in His sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

So, the just are those who are born again – those declared righteous (in right standing with God) by faith. When we are not aware of our right standing with God, we will tolerate situations and circumstances we don’t have to tolerate.

Keep this in mind, our RIGHTEOUSNESS is a free gift. Sometimes we try to accomplish things without God’s help. Romans 5:17 says,

• For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Grace is a gift from God. See, 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us that God the Father made Jesus, Who knew no sin to become sin for us, so that we might become the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God in Him. Wow, what a gift! Hallelujah!

See, through Adam we were all made sinners, but through faith in Jesus Christ, we are all made RIGHTEOUS. This is what Romans 3:20-23 declares. It says,

• Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe…

When we are focused on our right standing with God, it is difficult to continue sinning. 1 Corinthians 15:34 says,

• Awake to RIGHTEOUSNESS, and do not sin for some do not have the knowledge of God…

Being aware of our RIGHTEOUSNESS is what makes us want to do what is right.

All my love,

Lisa Gordon
Jesus City Church