"Accepting and Embracing Your Righteousness"

Do you recall that exhilarating moment when the school year ended, and you completed the final exam? The relief, the joy – the sense that all the toil and studying were finally behind you. As Alice Cooper's iconic song played in the background, "School's Out for Summer," a wonderful thought crossed your mind: freedom.

This feeling parallels the believer's experience when the truth of righteousness takes root in our hearts. Imagine the sweet relief of realizing, "Jesus accomplished it all. I don't need to strive to impress Him. I can cease studying for the exams!" It's a joyous day indeed.

The good news is, there isn't a final exam for believers. Jesus already undertook it on our behalf, and guess what? He passed. School's out forever!

In 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV), it's beautifully stated: "For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him." In the new covenant math, how many sins did Jesus commit before being made sin? None. Similarly, how many righteous acts did you perform before being made righteous? None. God accomplished it all.

When you placed your faith in Jesus, you were marked "righteous" for all time and eternity. Once unrighteous, you were cleansed, sanctified, and declared righteous in the name of the Lord (1 Cor. 6:9–11).

But what does it mean to be righteous? It's a complete transformation, a renewal by the Holy Spirit, a total rebuild. You've been straightened out, no longer the crooked person you once were. In Christ, your inclinations are to walk straight and true, guided by a Holy Spirit as the compass within you.

We've undergone a profound transformation, emerging as entirely new beings. Our righteousness empowers us to live in alignment with God's original design. Picture an automaker meticulously assembling a car, placing each piece in its precise and most effective position to ensure the vehicle functions exactly as the designer intended. In a similar way, this is what God did in the heart of every believer who entered into a relationship with their Maker.

Despite making mistakes, poor decisions, and occasional sin, the reality remains that sin no longer holds the same allure. When we do falter, it unsettles us because it contradicts our newfound and authentic true nature.

Dispelling the misconception that the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins, it's important to recognize that His true purpose is to convince us of our righteousness (John 16:8–10). Any feelings of guilt over wrongdoing originate from a condemning source, not from the Comforter. It's paramount to understand that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Guided by our renewed nature, characterized by righteousness, we are led to live rightly and progress on our transformative journey.

This perspective may differ from what many have heard or preached. The Holy Spirit isn't a heavenly cop issuing warnings when we stray; instead, he glorifies Jesus, guides us into all truth, and convinces us of our righteousness.

Declared righteous by faith, we have peace toward God (Romans 5:1, YLT). If you lack peace in your relationship with God, it might be due to not understanding or having revelation of His righteousness. In the kingdom, peace follows righteousness. You won't enjoy peace with God if you're more conscious of sin than righteousness.

When you stumble and sin, an old covenant preacher says, "Look at what you did!" A new covenant preacher says, "Look at what he did!" Under the old covenant, you were righteous based on your actions; in the new, it's because of what He did.

God wants you to receive, walk in, enjoy, rule, and reign with Him in righteousness. The gospel isn't a list of tasks for eternal life; it's the joyful proclamation that the righteousness needed to enter the kingdom comes as a free gift through faith. School's out forever – embrace the freedom of your righteousness!

Live rightly in Him!!! As He intended you to live!!!