The Gift of Righteousness

As I teach the concepts of spiritual identity, one of the greatest roadblocks I encounter is a reticence in many people to see themselves as righteous. This is particularly difficult for people who, like me, were raised in church. Most of us have been told so often how sinful we are that we feel very uncomfortable, almost blasphemous, affirming our righteousness in Christ.

In truth, however, though we may not be the quickest to accept it, we should ultimately gain the deepest understanding of it. Why? Because I believe the first prerequisite to an understanding of the gift of righteousness is a clear grasp of just how necessary that gift is.

To appreciate the gift, we need to know how much we need it, and those of us who have been called "sinners saved by grace" all our lives should certainly grasp our need for righteousness. The problem lies in what I believe is the second prerequisite: an understanding that by nature, the gift is completely independent of our performance.

We cannot change our own righteousness, not even for an instant. We can no more diminish our standing with God now than we could improve it before our conversion. Righteousness is a gift. Our role in it is simply to accept it and wear it. We can't damage it; all we can do is fail to enjoy its benefits.