Series: Righteousness

Corinthians 5:21 | NKJV (21) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

To be righteous means you are right with God, made right to God’s standard, innocent, justified

This is what will happen when you seek after walking uprightly – fulfilling what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33.

Matthew 6:33 | AMPC (33) But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

We need to learn God’s ways, more than we need to learn God’s rules.

What does it look like to seek after God’s way of doing and being right?

Psalms 15:1-5 | NKJV (1) A Psalm of David. LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? (2) He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; (3) He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; (4) In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; (5) He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

There is a phrase in verse 4 that I want to look at in this lesson:

Psalms 15:4 | NKJV (4) In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

Psalms 15:4 | GNB (4) They despise those whom God rejects, but honor those who obey the LORD. They always do what they promise, no matter how much it may cost.

What we are really talking about here in this phrase is walking in integrity.

God’s expectation for us as believers is that we will make the decision to do what we promise or fulfill our word no matter how much it may cost us.

One of the main reasons for this is that your character is only as strong as your word is strong. This is what makes God character so strong is that He will not compromise anything where His Word is concerned.

You see it is God’s character that makes His Name powerful. It is not simply the amount of power that He possesses. It is our character that makes our name powerful or to carry weight to it where it can work on your behalf.

Integrity is more than just telling the truth.

Integrity – (Hebrew) perfection, uprightness, simplicity and moral innocence.

Integrity – (Webster’s) implies trustworthiness and incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a responsibility or pledge. It is an absolute refusal to lie or steal in any way.

Integrity is who you are when no one else is around or watching you.

Who are you behind the scenes?

Integrity is the line where your public life and your personal life are congruent or the same.

A life of integrity is a life that is completely open, no hidden motives, refuses to compromise the standards of truth that God says are necessary, a life that refuses to deceive or manipulate no matter whether it is in your benefit or not, a life that cannot be corrupted by money or fame.

Integrity is the way that we appropriate the mercy of God in our lives.

Statistics – the average person “shades” the truth at least 200 times a day. Perhaps the stats in the Church are better.

Some people come out smelling like a rose in spite of the mistakes they may make in their lives because of the integrity of their own heart.

Psalms 26:1 | NKJV (1) A Psalm of David. Vindicate me, O LORD, For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the LORD; I shall not slip.

Psalms 26:11 | NKJV (11) But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; Redeem me and be merciful to me.

Psalms 41:10-13 | NKJV (10) But You, O LORD, be merciful to me, and raise me up, That I may repay them. (11) By this I know that You are well pleased with me, Because my enemy does not triumph over me. (12) As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, And set me before Your face forever. (13) Blessed be the LORD God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.

Proverbs 10:9 | NKJV (9) He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known.

Proverbs 11:3 | TPT (3) Integrity will lead you to success and happiness, but treachery will destroy your dreams.

Titus 2:6-8 | NKJV (6) Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, (7) in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, (8) sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

The world desensitizes us to falsehoods. We prepare for people to not keep their word i.e. contracts, alarm systems, TV cameras locks, etc.

Ephesians 6:14 | AMPC (14) Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,

The piece of spiritual armor that protects the heart is the breastplate of integrity. This breastplate protects the ground or repository of the Word of God.

You better do what you say you are going to do – in spite of whether the situation has changed or not. Keep your word.

For you to place a premium on integrity, you must have a holy hatred for deceit.

Psalms 119:104 | NKJV (104) Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

Integrity is birthed in a person’s heart by gaining understanding from the Word of God of the realities of life and what God says are important.

Truth has to be in place in order to have a truth to hold to.

To have a life of integrity, you must be a person of the Word. Gain truth and understanding from the Word of God and that will begin to produce a holy hatred for falsehoods.

Some tell the truth only when it is convenient and use deceit in whatever form as necessary to meet their own best interests.

Psalms 15:4 | MSG (4) “…Keep your word even when it costs you,

We must change our patterns of behavior by practicing the law of integrity.

Without integrity, the mercy of God will forever escape you.

Measure everything we do by the law of integrity, the standard of integrity. Learn to operate in the truth habit.

2 Corinthians 5:21 | NKJV (21) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

To be righteous means you are right with God, made right to God’s standard, innocent, justified

This is what will happen when you seek after walking uprightly – fulfilling what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33.

Matthew 6:33 | AMPC (33) But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

We need to learn God’s ways, more than we need to learn God’s rules.

Ways – a road, a course of life, mode of action, method of operation.

What does it look like to walk in God’s way of doing and being right?

Psalms 15:1-2 | NKJV (1) LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? (2) He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart;

• Walk uprightly
• Do works of righteousness
• Speak the truth from our heart

The three things that we are TO DO can be said very simply: your walk, your work, and your words.

When we are speaking about our walk, our works and our words, that is pretty much the sum total of our lives. God wants us to walk uprightly in all of these areas.

1. Walking upright means simply to stop sinning.

Jesus did not die just to save us from sins but to also to save us from sinning.

2. Do works of righteousness.
3. He speaks the truth in his heart.

Three Things NOT To DO:

Psalms 15:3 | NKJV (3) He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;

The person that God blesses is the one that does not do these three things:

1. Does not backbite with his tongue

Someone who backbites with their tongue is someone who says one thing to your face and something else behind your back.

Proverbs 6:19 | NKJV (19) A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

Backbiting is an abomination to God. God hates this.

Although this happens to all of us, we have to come to the place where we understand that God will protect us and if necessary, vindicate us.

What we need to do is forgive and let it go and let God handle the payback part.

Jesus did not say for us to go into the world and try to defend ourselves. We have to let God handle that. We have much more important things that we need to be doing.

Isaiah 54:17 | NKJV (17) No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD.

God has promised that He would watch over us and one day at His doing you will be able to condemn the tongue that rises against you.

Notice that this verse says that the weapon may be formed but it will not prosper. (to succeed or be victorious)

We do not have to worry about the weapon formed and let God handle it. NO weapon formed against you will prosper. Leave the revenge up to God.

2. Does not do evil to his neighbor.

This goes a step further than just gossip or backbiting. It is trying to expose your neighbor for what you believe him to be.

Again, you are going about trying to handle God’s business.

Romans 12:19-21 | NKJV (19) Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. (20) Therefore “IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD.” (21) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The thing that you and I must always remember is that we do not have all the facts. We are better off to let God, Who does know everything to handle it and expose them, if He so chooses.

We are always better off if we extend mercy and grace to someone and walk in forgiveness than try and expose the wrongs of everyone especially other Christians.

Remember, always overcome evil with good. You will always come out on top that way because that way God is able to cover and protect you and then deal with the other people.

Getting even should be left in the hands of God.

You will never make your candle burn brighter by blowing someone else’s out.

3. Does not take up a reproach against his neighbor.

To take up a reproach against your neighbor means to repeat or carry damaging, critical, or judgmental talk about them, rather than acting with integrity, kindness, and respect

This can take on the form of:

• • • Gossip and slander
    • Spreading shame
    • Unkind Judgment
    • Lack of respect

This is especially true with “prayer requests”.

Romans 12:16-18 | AMPC (16) Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive), but readily adjust yourself to [people, things] and give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits. [Prov. 3:7.] (17) Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is honest and proper and noble [aiming to be above reproach] in the sight of everyone. [Prov. 20:22.] (18) If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

2 Corinthians 5:21 | NKJV (21) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

“For He hath made Him to be sin for us…” – means it was the choice or will of God for Jesus to do this

He became sin with our sin. He did not sin and was spotless but He took upon Himself our sin past, present, and future.

To be righteous means you are right with God, made right to God’s standard, innocent, justified

This is what will happen when you seek after walking uprightly – fulfilling what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33.

Matthew 6:33 | NKJV (33) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Matthew 6:33 | AMPC (33) But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

We need to learn God’s ways, more than we need to learn God’s rules.

Psalms 81:13 | NKJV (13) “Oh, that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways!

Ways – a road, a course of life, mode of action, method of operation.

An ignorance of God’s ways will keep us out of God’s highest and best for our lives.

There is a blessing on giving the ways of God your attention.

Proverbs 8:32 | NKJV

(32) “Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep (attend to) my ways.

Isaiah 55:8-9 | NKJV (8) “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. (9) “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Righteousness – God’s character, consistent in character

A proper foundation of uprightness is necessary for these things to come to pass in our lives.

What does a foundation or uprightness look like?

Psalms 15:1-5 | NKJV (1) LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? (2) He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; (3) He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; (4) In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; (5) He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

This is not a salvation Psalm. This Psalm is God’s plan for how to succeed, His blessing, prosperity and advancement in life as a believer.

Walking in holiness is not difficult. Walking in un-holiness is difficult.

The Bible says the way of the sinner is hard.

Psalms 15:2 | NKJV (2) He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart;

• Walk uprightly
• Do works of righteousness
• Speak the truth from our heart

The three things that we are TO DO can be said very simply: your walk, your work, and your words.

When we are speaking about our walk, our works and our words, that is pretty much the sum total of our lives. God wants us to walk uprightly in all of these areas.

God not only saved us from our sins (past) but He saved us from our sins (present).

1. Walking upright means simply to stop sinning.

The Bible teaches us to flee sin.

1 Corinthians 15:34 | NKJV (34) Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

Jesus did not die just to save us from sins but to also to save us from sinning.

It is not trying to live separately from the world (people) that keeps you from sinning because you can live in a commune by yourself somewhere and still sin.

Romans 6:10-12 NKJV (10) For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. (11) Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (12) Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

3. Do works of righteousness.

Ephesians 2:10 | NKJV (10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Remember, our goal as Christians is not just to go to heaven. It should be to do those good (God) works which further God’s plans here, now.

Matthew 5:16 | NKJV (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Good works are corresponding actions to righteousness.

3. He speaks the truth in his heart.

You are speaking from a heart that is filled with the Word of God.

There are two kinds of truth that we speak from:

• • • Truth from the Word of God
    • Truth that is not a lie.

Psalms 34:12-13 | NLT (12) Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? (13) Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!

Ephesians 4:25 | TPT (25) So discard every form of dishonesty and lying so that you will be known as one who always speaks the truth, for we all belong to one another.

The moment that your words leave the truth, they become a lie. Don’t stretch or shade the truth.

2 Corinthians 5:21 | NKJV (21) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

“For He hath made Him to be sin for us…” – means it was the choice or will of God for Jesus to do this

He became sin with our sin. He did not sin and was spotless but He took upon Himself our sin past, present, and future.

To be righteous means you are right with God, made right to God’s standard, innocent, justified

The only way that God could be legally right in making us right in His eyes is if He gave us His righteousness through Jesus.

Under the Old Testament, the people’s sins were covered under the blood of animals and remembrance of past sins was made every year.

Jesus has offered up His own blood. He offered Himself and carried His own blood into the Heavenly Holy of Holies to obtain eternal redemption for us.

The Blood of Jesus does not cover our sins. His blood washes away and takes away our sin so that once washed, there is no more remembrance of past sins.

We are no longer under the penalty of sin.

Sin consciousness causes you to draw back and to be afraid of God.

Righteousness consciousness causes you to be bold and to draw near to God.

I am as right with God as Jesus is because it is His righteousness I am made right with!

We should not even talk about our past sins and be in a sin consciousness.

We should talk about our righteousness in Christ. We should talk about how we are innocent and right with God.

God is as pleased with me as He is with Jesus!

Jesus has dealt with the sin problem!

____________________________________________________________

Last week we looked at some Symptoms of people who do not know they are the righteousness of God.

This week let’s look at some benefits of knowing and walking in the righteousness of God:

“Righteousness” appears 296 times in the Bible.

“Righteous” appears 248 times in the Bible.

1. Walking in the righteousness of God is a key to victory in this life.

Romans 5:17 | NKJV (17) 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.)

2. Walking in the righteousness of God will help you live free from sin.

1 Corinthians 15:34 | NKJV (34) Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

3. Walking in the righteousness of God enables you to experience growth and advancement in various areas of your life.

Matthew 6:33 | NKJV (33) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Matthew 6:33 | AMPC (33) But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

This increase is not only material or external but also includes spiritual and emotional fulfillment. Living righteously brings a sense of peace, confidence, and joy, allowing you to face life’s challenges with assurance and boldness.

2 Timothy 2:22 | NKJV (22) Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

4. Walking in the righteousness of God will protect your heart from the attacks of the enemy!

Ephesians 6:13-14 | AMPC (13) Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. (14) Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,

Proverbs 10:6 | NKJV (6) Blessings are on the head of the righteous, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

Proverbs 10:16 | NKJV (16) The labor of the righteous leads to life, The wages of the wicked to sin.

Proverbs 10:25 | NKJV (25) When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

Proverbs 10:28 | NKJV (28) The hope of the righteous will be gladness, But the expectation of the wicked will perish.

Proverbs 10:31 | NKJV (31) The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, But the perverse tongue will be cut out.

Proverbs 10:32 | NKJV (32) The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

Proverbs 11:8 NKJV (8) The righteous is delivered from trouble, And it comes to the wicked instead.

Psalms 34:17 | NKJV (17) The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.

Psalms 34:19 | NKJV (19) Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

Proverbs 12:13 | NKJV (13) The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, But the righteous will come through trouble.

Proverbs 12:21 | NKJV (21) No grave trouble will overtake the righteous, But the wicked shall be filled with evil.

Proverbs 13:21-22 | NKJV (21) Evil pursues sinners, But to the righteous, good shall be repaid. (22) A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

Proverbs 13:25 | NKJV (25) The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.

Proverbs 18:10 | NKJV (10) The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.

Proverbs 20:7 | NKJV (7) The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.

Proverbs 21:25-26 | NKJV (25) The desire of the lazy man kills him, For his hands refuse to labor. (26) He covets greedily all day long, But the righteous gives and does not spare.

Proverbs 24:16 | NKJV (16) For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity.

2 Corinthians 5:21 | NKJV (21) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

“For He hath made Him to be sin for us…” – means it was the choice or will of God for Jesus to do this

He became sin with our sin. He did not sin and was spotless but He took upon Himself our sin past, present, and future.

To be righteous means you are right with God, made right to God’s standard, innocent, justified

The only way that God could be legally right in making us right in His eyes is if He gave us His righteousness through Jesus.

Under the Old Testament, the people’s sins were covered under the blood of animals and remembrance of past sins was made every year.

Jesus has offered up His own blood. He offered Himself and carried His own blood into the Heavenly Holy of Holies to obtain eternal redemption for us.

The Blood of Jesus does not cover our sins. His blood washes away and takes away our sin so that once washed, there is no more remembrance of past sins.

We are no longer under the penalty of sin.

Sin consciousness causes you to draw back and to be afraid of God.

Righteousness consciousness causes you to be bold and to draw near to God.

I am as right with God as Jesus is because it is His righteousness I am made right with!

We see the signs of people that are aware of your sin and failures and shortcomings.

• People who are sin conscious try to cover their own sins by their own work.
• People who are sin conscious (aware of their sin) hide themselves from the presence of God.
• People who are sin conscious are living in fear.

We should not even talk about our past sins and be in a sin consciousness.

We should talk about our righteousness in Christ. We should talk about how we are innocent and right with God.

God is as pleased with me as He is with Jesus!

Jesus has dealt with the sin problem!

1 John 4:15-17 NKJV (15) Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (16) And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. (17) Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

Symptoms of people who do not know they are the righteousness of God:

1. People who don’t know they are righteous in Christ continually live in fear.
2. People who don’t know they are righteous in Christ live in shame and guilt.

Romans 10:1-3 NKJV (1) Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. (2) For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. (3) For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

Declaring that I am the righteous of God in Christ is submitting to righteousness not arrogance.

Romans 10:4-10 NKJV (4) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (5) For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “THE MAN WHO DOES THOSE THINGS SHALL LIVE BY THEM.” (6) But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, ‘WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) (7) or, ” ‘WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). (8) But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): (9) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (10) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

If you are experiencing shame, guilt and condemnation, you have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

3. People who don’t know they are righteous in Christ are always talking about how unworthy they are.
4. People who don’t know they are righteous in Christ are always asking other people to pray for them because they don’t have confidence in prayer.

You need to believe that God hears you and will answer you!

5. People who don’t know they are righteous in Christ are always begging God to do something.
6. People who don’t know they are righteous in Christ tolerate with all manner of the works of the devil in their lives.

They don’t believe they have a right to deal with it because of our past sins.

7. People who don’t know they are righteous in Christ don’t live in peace and joy, and don’t act boldly on the Word of God.

Jesus did not come to show us how unrighteous and unworthy we are. He came to show us how a righteous person is supposed to live!

We need to ready and study the Word until we begin to act just like Jesus in boldness, prayer, and lifestyle!

2 Corinthians 5:21 | NKJV (21) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

“For He hath made Him to be sin for us…” – means it was the choice or will of God for Jesus to do this

He became sin with our sin. He did not sin and was spotless but He took upon Himself our sin past, present, and future.

“…that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” – (Ginomai) means to become something that was not before, transition from one point to another.

We have been much more than forgiven!

We have been much more than just saved from Hell!

We have been much more than just allowed to get into Heaven!

To be righteous means you are right with God, made right to God’s standard, innocent, justified

The only way that God could be legally right in making us right in His eyes is if He gave us His righteousness through Jesus.

We are no longer under the penalty of sin.

God no longer looks at us as though we have sinned, because Jesus took our sin from us. He looks at us in the righteousness of Christ!

You cannot be innocent and guilty at the same time.

You cannot be right with God and wrong with God at the same time.

The best you and I had to offer in our righteousness was never going to be good enough to make us right with God.

Only the Blood of Jesus could do that for us!

Good works and good deeds will never save people. Only faith in what Jesus did for us is the only thing that can save us.

I am as right with God as Jesus is because it is His righteousness I am made right with!

2 Corinthians 5:19 | NKJV (19) that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:19 | NLT (19) For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.

Genesis 3:6-10 | NKJV (6) So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. (7) Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. (8) And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. (9) Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” (10) So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

We see the signs of people that are aware of your sin and failures and shortcomings.

• People who are sin conscious try to cover their own sins by their own work.
• People who are sin conscious (aware of their sin) hide themselves from the presence of God.
• People who are sin conscious are living in fear.

Luke 5:1-8 | NKJV (1) So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, (2) and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. (3) Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. (4) When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” (5) But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” (6) And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. (7) So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. (8) When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

Jesus preached a great message to these people. Jesus then blessed the fishermen with a “too much” catch. Peter’s response was for Jesus to get away because he was sin conscious.

Sin consciousness causes you to draw back and to be afraid of God.

Righteousness consciousness causes you to be bold and to draw near to God.

Hebrews 10:1-3 | NKJV (1) For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. (2) For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. (3) But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.

We should not even talk about our past sins and be in a sin consciousness.

We should talk about our righteousness in Christ. We should talk about how we are innocent and right with God.

God is as pleased with me as He is with Jesus!

Hebrews 10:10-17 | NKJV (10) By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (11) And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. (12) But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, (13) from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. (14) For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. (15) But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, (16) “THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR HEARTS, AND IN THEIR MINDS I WILL WRITE THEM,” (17) then He adds, “THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”

Hebrews 10:18-23 | NKJV (18) Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. (19) Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, (21) and having a High Priest over the house of God, (22) let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (23) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

2 Corinthians 5:21 | KJV  (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.

“For He hath made Him to be sin for us…” – means it was the choice or will of God for Jesus to do this

He became sin with our sin. He did not sin and was spotless but He took upon Himself our sin past, present, and future.

“…that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” – (Ginomai) means to become something that was not before, transition from one point to another.

We have been much more than forgiven!

We have been much more than just saved from Hell!

We have been much more than just allowed to get into Heaven!

Romans 3:10 | NKJV (10) As it is written: “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE;

Romans 3:11-26 | NKJV (11) THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS; THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS AFTER GOD. (12) THEY HAVE ALL TURNED ASIDE; THEY HAVE TOGETHER BECOME UNPROFITABLE; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, NO, NOT ONE.” (13) “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN TOMB; WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY HAVE PRACTICED DECEIT”; “THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”; (14) “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS.” (15) “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD; (16) DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR WAYS; (17) AND THE WAY OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.” (18) “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”

The devil seeks to keep Christians in a sin consciousness because it robs believers of their confidence in Christ, their faith, and negatively affects your prayer life.

Jesus has taken care of the sin problem once and for all!

Speaking of your past failures and sins is not pleasing to God. Sure it can be part of our testimony but don’t live back there in all of that.

Which are you more aware of: your past sin or the power of the Blood of Jesus to cleanse you of all those things?

Romans 3:11-26 | NKJV (19) Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (20) Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (21) But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, (22) even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; (23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (24) being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (25) whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, (26) to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Propitiation: appeasing God’s wrath against sin by a sacrificial offering.

To be righteous means you are right with God, made right to God’s standard, innocent, justified

The only way that God could be legally right in making us right in His eyes is if He gave us His righteousness through Jesus.

Romans 3:27 | NKJV (27) Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.

Remember how Adam and Eve hid themselves from God after they sinned? That is because they were afraid.

Sin consciousness produces fear!

Righteousness consciousness produces boldness and confidence in Him!

I am as right with God as Jesus is because it is His righteousness I am made right with!

If I have been made right with God, what is holding me back? Jesus always received from Heaven because He did not labor under guilt, shame, and condemnation.