“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”

Romans 5:19

 

ANOTHER GLORIOUS ATTRIBUTE of God that is displayed in the gospel and in our salvation is the righteousness of God. In particular, this week we shall consider the perfect righteousness of Christ, His perfect obedience.

Romans 5 makes clear in the verses leading up to and including 5:19 (above) that sin entered the world through Adam. That by his fall into sin, not only Adam himself, but all of humanity were then made sinners. That is who we are to the core. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). But there is one (and only one) human who is not a sinner, one who never sinned, and that is the Man Christ Jesus.

Therefore, we, though guilty of sin, can be declared righteous by God, as Christ’s perfect righteousness and obedience are credited to us. This is the “Great Exchange” that took place on the cross for all who trust in Christ: our sin is placed on Christ, and He bears God’s judgment for that sin, and His perfect righteousness is credited to us. It is a gift–the greatest gift of all–and is received by faith. For as Paul also says in II Corinthians 5:21, “For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

 

Pastor Craig publishes  "A Word from God's Word" weekly in the "Kootenay News Advertiser".

About the Author

Pastor Craig has served as Senior Pastor of Cranbrook Fellowship Baptist Church since 2018. His passion is for preaching and teaching God's Word, as it is through the proclamation of the gospel that God does His work in people's lives.