(by pastor Norman)

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor 5:21; NKJV). Christ died on a cross so that we could be forgiven. for our sins (Col 1:14) and walk by God’s grace in His righteousness (Rom 5:17). When we acknowledge our need for Him, repent of sin, ask His forgiveness and ask Him into our lives to have control (Rom 10:9,10), He comes and we receive His abundant life (John 10:10) and righteousness. God sees us as righteous (2 Cor 5:21) and justified (Rom 4:25). Righteousness is to have right standing with God, in line with His will for us, acquitted of sin. To be justified is to be made, “just as if we had never sinned!” God does not remember our sins (Heb 8:12). God blesses the righteous (Ps 5:12, Matt 5:6), brings peace, quietness and guards us (Isa 32:17, Prov 13:6). He also delivers us from evil (Ps 34:19, Prov 11:6). Our Lord hears the prayer of the righteous (1 Peter 3:12) and brings life (Prov 12:28). In the book of Proverbs, we read that, “Righteousness exalts a nation” (Prov 14:34). We are God’s righteousness but as with every aspect of our new life as Christians we need to grow in righteousness. We are exhorted to seek (Matt 6:33) and pursue righteousness (2 Tim 2:22), “hunger and thirst for it” (Matt 5:6). We grow in righteousness by allowing the Bible to instruct us (2 Tim 3:16), walking in faith (Phil 3:9) and allowing the Holy Spirit to change us (2 Cor 3:18). Remember that the righteous “are as bold as a lion” (Prov 28:1), bold to tell the world about Jesus! Merry Christmas!