34. Benefits of righteousness.

The righteousness credited to us not only gave us a right standing with God but  he also  ‘gave us the right to become children of God’ – (John 1:12), to ask and receive the following benefits of righteousness, since  the ‘righteous requirements of the law have been fully met in us who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.’ – (Romans 8:4)  

1. Right to ask and receive grace – Righteousness gives us the right to ask and recieve grace in abundance which causes us to reign in life with Christ. ‘… how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.’ –  (Romans 5:17) ‘Just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ – (vs 21) Grace reigns in our lives only when there is righteousness!

2. Right to ask and receive blessings – Righteouness gives us the right to ask and receive God’s blessing in its fullness which causes us to prosper.  ‘Blessings crown the head of the righteous.’ – (Proverbs 10:6)  ‘For surely O Lord you bless the righteous.’ – (Psalm 5:12) John testified to this blessing, saying: ‘From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.’ – (John 1:16) So did Paul who wrote:  ‘He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ.’ – (Ephesians 1:3) Blessings come upon our lives only when there is  righteousness.

3. Right to ask and receive healing – Righteousness assures us of  unconditional healing which causes us to be made whole (John 5:6,14 KJV) because ‘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) Not only did we become the righteousness of God but he has also healed us in the process of the divine exchange when he took up our infirmities ! ‘Surely he took up our infirmities … and by his wounds we have been healed.’ – (Isaiah 53:4-5) Healing seems to inevitable when there is righteousness.

If Christ healed the unrighteous even before the Spirit was given, how much more now when  we have received the Spirit and have become the righteousness of God! Infact, the psalmist detailed the benefits the righteous have received from God: ‘Praise the Lord, O my soul and forget not his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.’ – (Psalm 103:1-5) Amen.