Romans 5:16-18 (NKJV) And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgement which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgement came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
Sin came into this world through one man’s offense. The sin nature that Adam brought into our lives resulted in condemnation because all of us have sinned against God, but justification was also obtained through the righteous act of one Man—Jesus Christ. Justification means being made righteous, and Jesus’ righteous act has given us the ability to stand before God, just like we have never sinned. This righteous position before God is a gift from God through Jesus Christ, which is why the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 1:3 that we are blessed with all the spiritual blessings in Christ. Because we are hidden in Christ, we are accepted in the Beloved and seen as righteous in Him. When we receive a gift, it is purely because of the decision of the giver. We don’t have to work for it because it is given out of grace. We receive wages for working, but something would not be a gift if we had worked for it. Therefore, the gift of righteousness is purely given to us based on the abundance of God’s grace so that nobody can boast of His work, His act of goodness or servanthood.
Ephesians 4:24 (NKJV) And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
The “new man” is the person who is born-again—a new creation. This new creation in the “spirit man” is created in true righteousness and holiness. The new creation realities and positional truth are given to us, and we are accounted as righteous the moment we believe in Jesus and in God’s salvation plan just as Abraham and David believed and were accounted as righteous. This newfound position of righteousness in God’s sight grants us boldness to approach God anytime and anywhere, and when you know that you are created in true holiness and righteousness and seen as righteous before God in the new creation, you will behave righteously.
We cannot do great exploits or adventures with and for God if we are constantly feeling condemned for our past sins, but when we know how God looks at us in Christ, we will be bold to execute anything that God has instructed us to do, especially when we know that we are walking in His perfect will. Our faith will rise with the conviction that God sees us righteous in Christ, not based on our own strength but because of the gift of God through Jesus Christ. The breastplate of righteousness was given to us after the work of redemption by Jesus Christ, and it gives us boldness.
Sermon Series: Great Adventures and Great Exploits
无畏来自于知道自己是公义的
罗马书 5:16-18因一人犯罪就定罪，也不如恩赐；原来审判是由一人而定罪，恩赐乃是由许多过犯而称义。若因一人的过犯，死就因这一人作了王；何况那些受洪恩又蒙所赐之义的，岂不更要因耶稣基督一人在生命中作王吗？ 如此说来，因一次的过犯，众人都被定罪；照样，因一次的义行，众人也就被称义得生命了。
罪通过一个人的犯罪来到这个世界。亚当带进我们生命的罪性导致我们被定罪，因为我们所有人都得罪了神，但称义也是通过一个人——耶稣基督的义行获得的。称义意味着被称为义，耶稣的义使我们有能力站在神面前，就像我们从来没有犯过罪一样。这种在神面前的公义地位是神通过耶稣基督所赐的礼物，这就是为什么使徒保罗在以弗所书1:3中说，我们在基督里得着一切属灵的祝福。因为我们隐藏在基督里，我们在爱子中被接纳，在祂里面被视为义人。当我们收到礼物时，这纯粹出于赠与者的决定。我们不需要以工作来赚取它，因为它是出于恩典的馈赠。我们因工作而得到工资，但有些东西如果我们是因劳力而得，就算不得是礼物。因此，公义的礼物纯粹是基于神丰富的恩典而赐给我们的，所以没有人可以夸耀他的工作、他的善行或服事。
以弗所书 4:24并且穿上新人，这新人是照着 神的形像造的，有真理的仁义和圣洁。
“新人”是指重生的人——一个新造的人。这个新造的 “灵人” 是在真正的公义和圣洁中被造的。新造之物的现实和位份的真理已经给了我们，就在我们相信耶稣，相信上帝的救赎计划的那一刻，我们就被认为是义人，就像亚伯拉罕和大卫因为信上帝而被认为是义人一样。这种在神眼中公义的新位置，使我们有
胆量随时随地就近上帝，当你知道你是在真正的圣洁和公义中被造的，并且在神面前被视为公义的时候，你就会表现得公义。
如果我们总是为我们过去的罪感到内疚，我们就不能和神一起做伟大的事业或冒险，但是当我们知道神在基督里怎样看我们时，我们就会大胆地执行神指示我们做的任何事情，特别是当我们知道我们是在按照祂完美的旨意行事的时候。我们的信心必随着确信神在基督里看我们为义而上升，不是基于我们自己的力量，而是因为神藉着耶稣基督的恩赐。义的护心镜是在耶稣基督作了救赎的工作之后赐给我们的，这给了我们胆量。
讲章系列: 历经涉险 刚强行事