How Does Christ's Righteousness Transform Your Daily Life?

🔥The Role of Christ as Our Righteousness in Focus:

Christ is our righteousness, and this profound truth has significant implications for our daily lives. Scripture teaches that through faith, we are justified and made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). This means that our standing before God is not based on our own works or righteousness but on Christ's perfect righteousness imputed to us. As believers, we are called to grow in the knowledge of Christ and to live as ambassadors of a heavenly kingdom. How does this relate to righteousness?

Many of us believe that this implies we must behave “well” to be a witness. However, true witnessing pertains to what we have seen and know of Christ, along with the new atmosphere in our hearts characterized by thankfulness and a sense of His presence and provision. This atmosphere stems from confidence rooted in righteousness – the boldness we have to live in His presence based on His justification of us.

The biblical understanding is that we gain Christ by knowing Him. As we grow in the knowledge of Him, we begin to count other things as “loss” on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. This makes room for His presence in our lives. We are learning to live by faith in Christ, understanding the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings (Philippians 3:10). Our daily life becomes a reflection of this truth, as we press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).

Living in the "atmosphere of sonship" is essential. This atmosphere is the primary blessing of our justification, which brought us into God’s family positioned in His Son. This is the root of transformation and His life in us. The spirit of sonship, which we have received, allows us to cry out "Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15). It is Christ Himself in us declaring the name of the Father and satisfying us with the comforts of His relationship with the Father, sharing this fellowship with us. It counters the spirit of bondage and fear, enabling us to live in the freedom and assurance of being God's children. This fearless intimacy with God transforms our approach to God, washing away shame and fear, and making us transparent and bold in our faith as we understand and experience the Father's love for the Son and our acceptance in Him. This is the hallmark characteristic of the children of God, based on our position in Christ's righteousness.

🚫Summary of Common Misconceptions:

► Claim: We must achieve personal righteousness based on commandment keeping and rule following in order to come to God or be a witness.

However, scripture teaches the opposite. Our righteousness is not of ourselves but is found in Christ alone. We are to be found in Him, not having our own righteousness, which is out of the law, but that which is out of God based on faith (Philippians 3:9). Furthermore, even though we are “vessels of mercy” we have a treasure in us, Christ Himself, and He is our righteousness. We are witnesses of His righteousness and His mercy, not establishing our own righteousness.

► Claim: Spiritual growth is about personal achievements and self-improvement.

Spiritual growth is not a matter of personal development but about being filled with the fullness of God through the knowledge of the love of Christ. It is not about our efforts but about Christ being formed in us through the renewing of our minds (Ephesians 3:19; Romans 12:2).

⚖️What Scripture Actually Says:

The Bible shows that Christ is the exact representation of God's nature, and as believers, we are reflecting Him as ambassadors of a heavenly kingdom. This reflection comes not by cultivating virtue but by knowing and beholding Him. 1 Corinthians 3:18 states, "But we all, with open face beholding (and reflecting) as (in) a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed (transformed) into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." Transformation is about Christ’s indwelling. This challenges common misconceptions about spiritual growth and personal righteousness. The fullness of God is not something we achieve; it is something we receive through Christ, who is our life and righteousness.

💡Correct Understanding from Scripture:

• Main Principle: Christ is our righteousness, and we are justified by faith in Him.
• • Supporting Scripture: (2 Corinthians 5:21) "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
• • Practical Application: Live confidently in the assurance of your righteousness in Christ.
• Main Principle: Spiritual growth is about knowing Christ and being filled with His fullness.
• • Supporting Scripture: (Ephesians 3:19) "To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
• • Practical Application: Pursue the knowledge of Christ and allow His life to transform you.
• Main Principle: We are ambassadors of Christ, reflecting His glory and character.
• • Supporting Scripture: (2 Corinthians 5:20) "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us."
• • Practical Application: Represent Christ in your daily interactions with others by remembering He is with you, and considering Him in your heart.
• Main Principle: Our identity is in Christ, not in our own achievements or failures.
• • Supporting Scripture: (Philippians 3:9) "And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ."
• • Practical Application: Rest in your identity in Christ and reject self-reliance.

🧠Implications/Damage of Misunderstanding:

Misunderstanding these truths can lead to a reliance on self-righteousness and a performance-based approach to spirituality. This can result in feelings of inadequacy and spiritual burnout, as believers strive to achieve what has already been accomplished in Christ. It also tends to hypocrisy as we attempt to present a half-formed, shoddy personal “righteousness” to the world that ends up not having anything to do with Christ, but about what we are “against” and what we do and don’t do.

🩸True Grace/Application Brings You to Christ:

Understanding Christ as our righteousness brings us to a place of rest and assurance in Him. It allows us to approach God boldly, knowing that we are accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6). This understanding leads us to rely on Christ's finished work and to live out our identity as His ambassadors, reflecting His love and grace to the world.

🛑Final Takeaways:

• Christ is our righteousness, and we are justified by faith, not by works. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
• Spiritual growth is about being filled with the fullness of God through Christ. (Ephesians 3:19)
• We are ambassadors of Christ, called to reflect His glory and character. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
• Our identity is in Christ, freeing us from the need to rely on our own righteousness. (Philippians 3:9)

🌳Additional Biblical Insights:

The Bible reveals that as we grow in the knowledge of Christ, we are transformed into His image, reflecting His glory more and more. This transformation is not about self-improvement but about Christ being formed in us, leading to a life that glorifies God and fulfills His purposes. Living in the atmosphere of sonship, we experience the freedom and assurance of being God's children, which empowers us to boldly proclaim His love and grace. As ambassadors, our boldness before God is both a personal assurance of our sonship and a compelling invitation for others to embrace faith, as we embody the righteousness of Christ and extend His invitation to all (Romans 8:14-16).