Why is it that when it’s too good to be true we have the propensity to doubt?  Well, one of the powerful reasons, if not the most powerful one, is because of our past experiences.  We need to undo what has been done in our lives so that we will not miss the great things that God has prepared for us.

But you’ve seen and heard it because God by His Spirit has brought it all out into the open before you.”  (1 Corinthians 2:9-10 MSG)

When I first heard of us being the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, not by our works but by the finished work of Jesus Christ, I was stunned.  I simply couldn’t believe it.  I was so programmed that one can only be called “righteous” when one does things right in his own ability, apart from what Jesus had accomplished at the cross.  There were nights when my heart ached as I got into the word and looked at those promises of being righteous and thought to myself how I’ve always fallen short of it.

But God is so rich in mercy and abounding in His love that He didn’t let me stay the way I was.  He knew how I was pressing in to get good points before His eyes to partake of those promises and tried hard with my whole heart to be righteous but to no avail.  He knew how tired I was to achieve it in my own ability.  And when the designated moment came, YES, He SAVED me.  Praise the Lord!!!

I was watching Daystar Cable Channel more than a decade ago and I came across Ptr Joseph Prince who preached on “Righteousness”.  Oh how I my face was glued on the screen while my hands scribbled as fast as I could.   It was mind blowing for me at that time.  Light indeed pierced into my unrenewed mind and illumined my thoughts on righteousness.  This verse became so alive in me that set me free from works and brought me to rest.

“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that IN HIM we might become the righteousness of God.”  (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV)

I love how the Amplified version amplified this verse.

“For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].”  (2 Corinthians 5:21  AMPC)

This revelation so liberated my “work-oriented” thoughts that caused PEACE and JOY to fill my heart beyond comprehension.  The love of God so melted me.  My only response was thanksgiving, praise and worship.

These were the promises, to name a few, that I was believing, declaring and expecting to see manifest in  my life.

Blessings crown the head of the righteous .. (Proverbs 10:6)

The thoughts of the righteous are right … (Proverbs 12:5)

The memory of the righteous is blessed … (Proverbs 10:7)

The labor of the righteous leads to life … (Proverbs 10:6)

The lips of the righteous know what finds favor … (Proverbs 10:32)

The desire of the righteous will be granted … (Proverbs 10:24)

The lips of the righteous nourish many … (Proverbs 10:21)

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life … (Proverbs 10:11)

Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever.  (Psalm 112:6)

The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry.  (Proverbs 10:3)

The hope of the righteous will be gladness. (Proverbs 10:28)

The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom. (Proverbs 10:31)

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree:  he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” (Psalm 92:12)

The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. (Proverbs 4:18)

Imagine me declaring these promises before and seeing them unfulfilled in my life all because my perception was tuned in on the wrong frequency? But God desires His mercy revealed and demonstrated and not sacrifice that comes from our own effort to be righteous.  Glory to God Who is worthy of all glory and praise.   Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

He did it all and qualified you and I to partake of this glorious inheritance that He has prepared for us.  Assuredly, freedom comes when we understand WHO WE ARE.   We were made RIGHTEOUS by the Blood of Jesus Christ.  He washed our slate clean and made us new creations in Him.  The old is gone and the new has come.  This is the GOOD NEWS and yes, it’s too good to be true!  Partaking of the riches in glory for what we don’t work for boggles our minds because our default is always to get credit for what we attain.

Everything boils down to our identity, who we are IN CHRIST.  Our BEING righteous produces our DOING righteous deeds effortlessly that postures us to enjoy all that He has prepared for us.  Christ IN us the HOPE of glory is the GOOD news. It is NOT by might NOR by power, but BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD.

“In the last days, they will tremble in awe of the Lord and of His goodness.” Hosea‬ ‭3:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Examine your life what you see that is too good to be true and relate it to His goodness.  Surely it will cause you to thank Him, praise Him, worship Him like never before. He is worthy of it all.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, Who knew NO SIN yet He became sin that we will perpetually be rest assured to have right standing with You.  Thank You for lavishing us with Your perfect love that You never withheld anything from us, not even Your Son, all because Your utmost desire is for us to experience Who You truly are as our Father.  The Father Who loves.  The Father Who cares.  The Father Who heals.  The Father Who provides.  The Father Who restores us.  The Father Who is always with us.  Thank You, Jesus, for coming to save and rescue us that we may have glorious life and have it more abundantly.  Holy Spirit, thank You for making Jesus intimately known to us that we may live a life with blessed assurance that we will remain the righteousness of God in Him forever.  Amen!