“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
2 Corinthians 5:21
When you look at your walk with the Lord, there are revelations that can make you think, “Man, I wish I had known this in my heart and not just my head earlier!” For me, the revelation of righteousness is one of those realities.
Righteousness is something that we hear a lot about in Christian circles, but how many of us have had the life-giving revelation of it in our lives? When our eyes are opened to the truth of 2 Corinthians 5:21 that, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God,” we have no choice but to see ourselves differently.
A common approach to the Christian walk, and the one that I was bound to, was the mentality that righteousness comes from the law. Without knowing it, I had a ‘works based’ perspective first of my righteousness, Another way to say it, I had to work for my position of righteousness before I was seen that way by God.
I had ‘head’ knowledge of Philippians 3:9, “That I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ— the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith,” but I did not have the transformative ‘heart’ revelation. I did not understand the transaction that happened on the cross of Calvary. I did not appreciate Romans 3:21-22, “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” I wasn't living the life of righteousness apart from the law. I was still living under the law, and not in the new righteousness of the new covenant which was granted me as a believer in Jesus.
What changed everything was this question, “If I can believe that Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, became my sin completely at His death on the cross, why am I not as aware of the fact that the exchange for my sin was His righteousness?” I had to check myself— why did I have faith for my sins to be removed as far as the east is from the west, but I was still living a ‘works based life first in regards to my righteousness? Can anybody relate to this?! When I was able to truly see that I was standing in a nature of righteousness before God because of what Jesus did instead of having to work for my righteousness, I experienced a freedom that I cannot describe. When we allow ourselves to be free of the law-based mindset, we are able to step into our true identity as the righteousness of God. There is freedom in Jesus!
It is amazing the relationship between understanding how the Lord sees you and your ability to release past guilt, hurt and shame. Now, instead of feeling defeated at times when walking out my faith, I remind myself of my identity as the righteousness of God! The devil cannot use my past against me! Know who you are Church! You are not working FOR your righteousness, you are walking IN your righteousness! Why? Because of the precious blood of Jesus! Oh, the blood! So pure, so cleansing — “you are a new creation” as 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares. And in that newness, is your new righteousness! Glory to God!
This mind set allows you to walk in victory. I’m telling you, Saints! When you get this revelation deep in your belly, it changes you. You walk different, you talk different, you think different, you pray different, you believe different, you realize you ARE different!
I speak this revelation over you today. Read the verses above over yourself, Declare them! It is the Word of God for your life.
