Romans 8:1 (NKJV) There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, whodo not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
As believers, we are blessed with the position of righteousness. It is so important that we understand what righteousness is because when we know who we are in Christ, what we have, and what we can do through the new creation, we will think, believe, and behave differently. Before being born again, our identity was that of a sinner who could not break free from habitual sin and belonged to the kingdom of darkness. However, with a renewed mind and clear understanding that the new man is made in true righteousness and holiness, we can act and speak righteously, and our whole lifestyle will change.
Nonetheless, we need to remember that righteousness is a right standing before God, which God gave us out of His abundant grace. It is a positional truth. It doesn’t mean that we are perfect because sanctification is a lifelong process. However, knowing that we have righteousness in the new creation will help us walk righteously in all our dealings and lifestyles, freeing us from a sense of guilt and unworthiness, and the frustration of struggling to be accepted by God.
In the past, when we tried to earn God’s love through good behaviour and spiritual disciplines, we often felt condemned by our continual failures because of our sin nature, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes. Our conscience would condemn us, and the devil would accuse us.
Ephesians 1:6 (NKJV) to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
The devil will accuse us of our past lifestyle of sin. Therefore, unless we renew our minds regarding the righteousness that Jesus has obtained for us, we will never feel worthy before God. Our past condemns us, and our present weakness pushes us away from God, but God, in His mercy, made it a point to see us in Christ. He sees us as righteous in Christ. We have believed, and it is accounted to us as righteousness.
Righteousness gives you the ability to stand in the presence of the Father God without feelings of guilt, condemnation, or inferiority, as though sin had never existed. We have no part to play in it. Our past is under the blood of Jesus Christ. God does not remember our past or our sins anymore because Jesus has dealt with the sin issue that separated us. We did not earn the position.
By the abundance of God’s grace, He has made us accepted in the Beloved. Therefore, we can come to a position of rest in His love. We know that God accepts us purely because of Jesus’ work of atonement. The righteous position in Christ produces a sense of peace and security.
Sermon Series: Righteousness: Religion or Reality
在基督的义中得以稳妥
罗马书 8:1 如今，那些在基督耶稣里的，就不被定罪了；因为他们不随从肉体，只随从
作为信徒，我们蒙福得着“义”的地位。明白什么是义极为重要，因为当我们清楚自己在基督里的身份、所拥有的权柄，以及在新造生命中所能成就的事，我们的思想、信念和行为都会完全改变。在重生以前，我们的身份是罪人，被罪的权势所捆绑，无法挣脱习惯性的罪，也属于黑暗的国度。然而，当我们的心思意念更新，清楚明白新造的人是按着“真理的义和圣洁”所造的，我们就能行义、说义，我们的整个生活方式也会因此而改变。
然而，我们必须牢记，“义”是神出于祂丰盛恩典所赐给我们在祂面前的正当地位，这是一种“地位上的真理”。它并不意味着我们已经完全无瑕，因为成圣是一生的过程。但当我们知道自己在新造的生命里已得着义时，就能在行为和生活中行在公义中，从内疚、不配感以及竭力想取悦神的挫败中得释放。
过去，当我们试图用良好的行为和属灵操练去赢得神的爱时，往往因为失败而感到被定罪。这是因为罪性、肉体的情欲和眼目的情欲常使我们跌倒。我们的良心责备我们，魔鬼也不断控告我们。
以弗所书 1:6 使他荣耀的恩典得着称赞；这恩典是他在那蒙爱者里所赐给我们的。
魔鬼会不断控告我们过去犯罪的生活。因此，若我们不更新心思，对耶稣为我们所成就的义没有清楚的认识，我们就永远不会觉得自己在神面前是配得的。过去的失败会定我们的罪，现在的软弱会使我们远离神。但神满有怜悯，祂选择在基督里看我们。祂看我们为义，因为我们相信了祂，这信就算为我们的义。
“义”使我们能够站在天父面前，毫无内疚、定罪或自卑的感觉，就好像罪从未存在过一样。而这一切并非出于我们自己的努力。我们的过去已被耶稣基督的宝血所遮盖。神不再记念我们的过去，也不再记念我们的罪，因为耶稣已经处理了那使我们与祂隔绝的罪的问题。我们没有凭自己赚得这个地位。
乃是出于神丰盛的恩典，祂使我们在“那蒙爱者”里被接纳。因此，我们可以安息在祂的爱中，深知神接纳我们，完全是因着耶稣所成就的赎罪之工。在基督里的义的地位，使我们在心中得享平安与稳妥。
讲章系列：公义：宗教要求，还是救恩的确据？