Are You Righteous?

“I am innocent” is the concluding verse in the worship song, “I am washed in the blood of the Lamb.”  Really? This truth seems beyond our ability to believe, but we must consider the awesome price and reason to grasp this reality.  Romans 5:9 states we are “now justified by His blood.” A powerful definition of justified is “just as if I’d” been perfect.

 Scripture in Leviticus 17:11 confirms that the life is in the blood and that there is no remission of sin without the shedding of blood. How much more true when we realize that the blood of Jesus on the cross that He poured out willingly is the life of God with infinite value.

It is a wonderful thing to have our sins forgiven, but what Jesus did for us is much more!  Consider this illustration: suppose you are arrested for going 60 in a speed zone of 40 mph. When you are before the judge he could choose to show mercy and say it is forgiven, you are free to go.  Guilty but pardoned.  However, what if upon inspection it is discovered that the policeman’s radar gun was set 20 miles per hour too fast.  In this case you are justified, just as if I’d been perfect, because the evidence supports the verdict not guilty and you are free to go as a completely innocent driver.  Notice this truth in 1 John 1:9, how the blood of Jesus cleanses us, “He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sin AND to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Jesus talked about the “ruler of this world” coming but then reassured His followers that “he has nothing in Me.” John 14:30. Since through the blood of Jesus we are supernaturally joined to Him, that is we are in Him and He is us, we likewise share the same truth, “Satan has nothing in us.” 1 John 5:18 points out this same truth about the one who is born of God, “the wicked one does not touch him.”  No wonder Revelation 12:11 says we overcome the evil one by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony.

The Bible teacher asked his students (and I ask you), “How many of you are righteous?”  After some deliberation, only one or two raised their hand.  Wrong answer?  2 Corinthians 5:21 states that Jesus became sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  Righteousness, or being right with God, suggests that everything contrary to His nature is removed and secondly, you have an intimate position of closeness being right with God.  Yes, believe it and receive it by giving thanks, you are righteous.  In God’s eternal court, you are innocent! 

Treasure the fact and declare it, “I am justified by the blood of the Lamb, it is just-as-if-I’d been perfect.”  Jesus, You are my righteousness and in You I am righteous forever.