THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS #20

This gift of 'righteousness' which we have been studying, this legal declaration 'not guilty', is credited to people who are in actual fact 'guilty'. It is given by God to people who are 'sinners'.

This is affirmed in Paul's words 'while we were still sinners Christ died for us'. It is this 'while we were still sinners' aspect of justification by faith that moved Martin Luther to teach that a Christian person is simul justus et peccator - at the same time justified and a sinner.

This gift of acquittal by God allows those who trust in Jesus Christ to be honest about their sin and their sinfulness. There is no pressure, or should be no pressure, to pretend to be without sin. Indeed, to claim to be without sin is to deceive oneself and make God a liar. It is also to put oneself outside the realm of Christ's forgiveness and mediation. Only those who admit to sin need a Saviour; only those who acknowledge imperfection need a Mediator.

There is never even a moment in which we do not need the gift of this alien righteousness; there is never a moment when we do not need Christ as our Mediator in the presence of God ' never even a nano-second when we can stand in the presence of God and be accepted as guiltless on the basis of our own merit.

At every point, at every moment our acquittal and acceptance in the presence of God depends on the gift of Christ, our Righteousness.

For this reason, Paul in Romans 7:13-25 freely expresses his imperfections. He has no illusions about sin, he has no need to cover it up or call it something else. Because his confidence is in Christ, not in himself, he is not threatened by his sin. He hates it, he strives against it, but its presence can no longer destroy his peace with God or his relationship with God.

He trusts not in himself, but in Christ. Only those who claim no righteousness of their own can do that. Only those who acknowledge they are sinners who sin, can do that. 

Scriptures: Romans 5:8; 7:13-25; 1 John 1:8-2:2