Just as I wrote in the previous post on Romans 6:8 that we live with God now not in some distant future after we have died….so again I want to look at another verse which my brethren put off to “in heaven when we die.”
2Co 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
It is a poor translation above(NKJV)…The King James says
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Many dear brethren suppose that we are not righteous until we enter into heaven. In fact I once shared excitedly with a sister whose husband preaches in a Brethren fellowship that we are the righteousness of God simply by faith in Jesus….she thought for a bit and said, “No…I don’t think so…not until we go to heaven.” I saw this lady tonight at the grocery store and was reminded of our little interaction from about 9 years ago. It is amazing and sad how powerfully traditions of man can blind people to what the Word clearly teaches!
I suppose a little bit of difficulty in believing that we are righteous NOW comes from the wording of the verse.
“…might be made or might become…”…it is as if Paul is saying maybe. In our modern use of the word might, we tend to mean maybe. I might go to church today. I might not come to your house. It can mean ‘I will’ or ‘I may not’.
A more literal version to the Greek has it this way….
2Co 5:21 For the one not knowing sin, for us a sin offering he made, that we should be G1096righteousness of God by him. Apostolic Bible Polyglot
That we should be righteousness of God by or in Him.
The word is G1096 γίνομαι
ginomai
A prolonged and middle form of a primary verb; to cause to be (“gen” -erate), that is, (reflexively) to become (come into being)[James Strong]
Thayer Definition:
1) to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being.
Webster’s says of “become”
1. To pass from one state to another; to enter into some state or condition, by a change from another state or condition, or by assuming or receiving new properties or qualities, additional matter, or a new character; as, a cion becomes a tree.
When Jesus became a sin offering for us He actually took all of us..all of you..into Himself and became you. He went as you and as me to the cross. In exchange we are made “as He is”. He took your sin and imperfection…we received His righteousness and perfect standing with the Father. We were far off and He was near. But He took us into Himself and became far off for us on the Cross. The Father saw His son pouring out His soul to death and was satisfied – justifying Christ Jesus for His faith. That justification we receive. The Righteousness of Christ we receive. The Holiness of Christ we receive. NOW NOW NOW…the moment you believe.
Are you IN CHRIST? Then you are The Righteousness of God.
Righteousness is not something separate from Jesus that one earns or develops. Righteousness is a quality of BEING that is Christ. When you receive Jesus you receive all that He is. John said that we are as He is in this world. 1 John 4:17 Not one day…but now in Christ, in this world!
If you dare to believe it is true, then speak by faith out loud right now that you are THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.
To every accusation speak this truth of your new creation being. At your worst moments you are still the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. The Blood has put away your sin forever.
