Right Standing

 One of the miracles of redemption, is the believers standing with God. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul gives us the greatest revelation of the believers standing with God. One thing we are told is found in 2 Corinthians 5:21. It reveals what God did in Christ for the believer, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." When one confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and takes Him as Savior, they immediately become the righteousness of God in Christ. This bears out further in Paul's Epistle to the Romans, "to demonstrate at the present time His (Gods) righteousness, that He might be just (righteous) and the justifier (righteousness) of the one who has faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:26) "Jesus was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. (being declared righteous) (Romans 4:25) "Therefore, having been justified (declared righteous) by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1) 

What a wonderful picture of who and what the born again believer truly is in Christ. Righteousness is the ability to stand in the Father's presence without guilt, condemnation, unworthiness or inferiority. It also gives the believer the legal right to the use of the Name of Jesus. Now we have God's grace, His strength, His ability to stand in the presence of all kinds of sickness, diseases as well as stand in the presence of Satan without fear, as an absolute master over them all. This means that believers must become completely aware, without wavering or doubting, as to their legal position in Christ. In other words, we are a new creation and have the nature and life of the Father in us. Without a total understanding of these truths, it becomes difficult to live the victorious life that we have been given through faith in Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:27)

Notice what the Holy Spirit speaks through the Apostle John, "You are of God, little children..." (1 John 4:4) Take a moment and let that soak into your spirit. Now say it over and over again, "I am of God...I am of God...I am His child...I am His child..." This is not doing mantras. This is speaking the truth over yourself. The more we receive these truths in our spirit, the more we come to realize that the old man, the old nature, with its weaknesses, its failings, its doubts, its fears, its sense of servitude to circumstances, is all gone, and we come to a greater understanding of what a new creation in Christ is all about. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Where we were once a slave, we are now free and filled with abundant life in Christ. Now we can understand the next part of 1 John 4:4, "...For greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4)  

However, as we come to know and walk in these truths, our Heavenly Father wants us to bear the fruit of righteousness. The Apostle Paul tells us, "Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness." (2 Corinthians 9:10) The Apostle John tells us, "If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him." (1 John 2:29) For most, to "increase the fruits of your righteousness" or to, "practice righteousness" have thought it meant only our conduct, a carefulness in our walk. Although that is implied, it is actually doing the works that Jesus did while on earth as the Son of Man. It is taking Jesus' place and doing the things that He did and even greater. (John 14:12)

Keep in mind that believers do not do works in and of themselves, but it is recognizing and acting upon the grace of God. The Apostle Paul said, "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15:10) The Amplified Bible describes grace as, "For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)

Although in the past, we may have lacked in understanding these things, but now, through the Holy Spirit in us, we will major in these truths and present them to others. The Apostle James tells us, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22) "But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." (James 2:18) Faith is simply acting upon God's Word and at the same time His grace goes to work through us. The Lord wants us to begin to live righteousness, to practice righteousness, to break Satan's dominion by speaking with authority just as Jesus did. So, as it was with the Apostle Paul, so it is with us, "...but I labored more  abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." The grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you...