God calls every believer to live a life of righteousness. This is not something we can accomplish through human effort or self-discipline alone. It requires being filled with the Spirit and walking by the Spirit (Gal 5:16; Eph 5:18). Walking by the Spirit means living moment by moment in dependence on God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit, who indwells and empowers us. This is how we progressively experience spiritual maturity and produce the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). The Christian life is a battle, but it is also a life of great blessing and purpose. God has called us to pursue righteousness, not to earn His love, but as a response to His grace. We do this by renewing our minds with Scripture (Rom 12:1-2), maintaining fellowship through confession of sin (1 John 1:9), praying without ceasing (1 Th 5:17), walking by faith (2 Cor 5:7), and trusting God in every situation (Prov 3:5-6). This is how we walk by faith and live in obedience.
Tag: Imputed righteousness
Totally by His Grace
Salvation is 100% the work of the Lord—grace from start to finish. It is all of God and none of man. No human effort, no good works, no religious activity can ever satisfy the perfect righteousness of God. Works do not save—they never have, and they never will. The only work that matters is the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, where He bore the penalty for sin in full (Mark 10:45; Rom 5:8; 1 Pet 3:18). He gets all the praise and glory.
Righteousness and Sin in the Life of the Christian
All of us as Christians experience a dual reality in our spiritual lives, being simultaneously justified and struggling with sin. Through faith in Christ, we receive judicial forgiveness, eternal life, and God’s imputed righteousness, which is the basis for our standing as righteous before Him. However, despite this positional righteousness, we continue to contend with our inherent sinful nature, leading to individual acts of sin throughout our lives.
Justified in God’s Sight
The process of divine justification is a one-time event, not to be confused with ongoing sanctification. Faith in Christ results in the gift of righteousness and a declaration of righteousness before God, not by human works. Justification is a judicial act of God, pardoning and accepting the believer as just through Christ's righteousness. This righteousness is imputed, not imparted, and believers are simultaneously righteous and sinners.
God’s Gift of Righteousness
The Bible reveals that God imputes His righteousness to the believer at the moment of salvation. The word imputation itself is an accounting term used both in the Old Testament and the New Testament (Gen 15:6; Psa 32:2; Rom 4:3-8; Gal 3:6). Biblically, there are three major imputations that relate to our standing before God.
God’s Imputed Righteousness
For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is … Continue reading God’s Imputed Righteousness
Seek Your Servant – Psalm 119:169-176
Psalm 119 presents the psalmist as one who has wandered away from God, but cries for understanding and deliverance that he might praise and worship Him.
God’s Righteousness at the Cross
The subject of the cross addresses God’s righteousness, man’s sinfulness, and Jesus’ substitutionary death which satisfied God’s righteous demands toward our sin and reconciles us to the Father. Certainly other characteristics of God are seen at the cross such as love, mercy, and grace; however, this article will primarily be concerned with His attribute of righteousness. The cross makes sense when we see it in connection with God’s attribute of righteousness.
Biblical Righteousness: A Word Study
Throughout the Bible righteousness is also seen as a relationship word that recognizes established standards between a sovereign and subordinate. A man is recognized as righteous, either before God or men, when he satisfies the legal demands placed upon him.
The Doctrine of Simultaneity
Too often Christians struggle with understanding their position in Christ and why they continue to sin after salvation. The doctrine of simultaneity addresses this very relevant and practical doctrinal truth.