This post is part of a Series and I therefore request you to please read the earlier posts before you read this one. (Read: The Kingdom of God Series)
One of the greatest gifts that Jesus gives the believer through his death, burial and resurrection is the gift of righteousness. The death of Jesus has given God a just reason to justify the ungodly and present them holy, blameless and above reproach in His sight. (Colossians 1:22) The glorious mystery of this message is that God has made the believer above reproach. In simple words, a believer will never have to fear the wrath and judgement of God for his actions.
The scriptures read- Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. (1 John 4:17-18)
God regenerates (Titus 3:5) and makes us just like Jesus Christ when we are born again so that we do not have to have any fear in His holy presence.
In the book of Colossians we read about how Paul encourages believers to continue their walk in Christ with faith. (Colossians 2:6-7) He declares that the believer is complete in Christ. (Colossians 2:10) He continues by writing that the believer has been quickened together with Christ and forgiven all his trespasses. (Colossians 2:13) Note the words 'all trespasses'. Selah.
Let me give you some illustrations from the bible to help you understand what it really means to be righteous in the sight of God.
In the book of Numbers we read about the story of the prophet Balaam. In that story the prophet looked at Israel and said these words: “God has not observed iniquity in Jacob, Nor has He seen wickedness in Israel, The Lord his God is with him. (Numbers 23:21)
The Israelites were not perfect people. They we always grumbling and in rebellion with God. (Psalms 106:13-46) Yet God said through the prophet: God has not observed iniquity, nor has He seen wickedness in Israel. This is exactly what it is like for a born-again Christian.
When God looks at a believer in the Kingdom, He does not see his sin or mistakes. He says to him: I do not observe your inquiry, nor see wickedness in you. This is what it means to be righteous.
It is like Solomon said to his wife: You are all fair, my love, and there is no spot in you. (Song of Solomon 4:7) “Open for me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one; (Song of Solomon 5:2)
When God looks at a believer He says- There is no spot in him. He is my love, my perfect one. When God looks at a believer, He look at him in the Spirit. (John 4:24) It is because we are in Christ that God can look at us and say these words.
In the book of Hebrews we also read that the believer is sanctified once for all and perfected forever. (Hebrews 10:10) (Hebrews 10:14)
When God looks at us in the Kingdom, it does not matter what sin we did yesterday, He does not see it, nor impute it to us. (Romans 4: 6-8) In the sight of God we are perfect. (2 Corinthians 5:21) We are Saints.
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