Credited with Righteousness

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Cor. 5:21

While on the topic of justification, I thought I would write about my favorite thing I learned this semester in Systematic Theology II with Dr. Zuber. The doctrine of soteriology by far took longer than any other subject did this semester and that was largely due to his extensive lectures on justification.

However, I didn’t mind this, because the way he presented justification, and specifically the fact that we receive Christ's righteousness, not only thoroughly explained it to me for the first time, but my heart was extremely touched. So, what does it mean to be justified through Christ?

Basically, justification is the legal declaration of the righteousness of a Christ-follower, by God. Much more could be said in order to explain justification, but due to the clarity and brevity of Philip Eveson’s definition in his book Justification by Faith Alone (as presented by Dr. Zuber), I give you his: “Justification is a legal pronouncement made by God, in the present, prior to the day of judgment, declaring sinners to be not guilty and therefore to be acquitted by pardoning all their sins, and reckoning them to be righteous in His sight, on the basis of Christ as their representative and their substitute, whose righteousness in life and death is put to their account when in self-despairing trust (faith) they look to Him alone for salvation.”

Something important to understand is that through justification, we are credited with righteousness, we are not made righteous (Gen. 15:6). We are declared as righteous because we are imputed with Christ’s righteousness. Justification is also not just the forgiveness of sins; the main point is the legal declaration of our right-standing with God, because of Christ.

So what does being imputed or credited with righteousness look like?
This is the picture that Dr. Zuber gave us, and this is what touched my heart deeply. He said to think of it as if when we are standing before God, with Christ standing in between us and God. Further, he is looking the Father in the eyes, waving His nail scarred arms and hands, sincerely and genuinely saying, “Look at me, look at my righteousness, look at my scars, look at my sacrifice, don’t look at him/her behind me. Just look at me. See my righteousness and see it in him/her. She/he has my righteous blood.”

This is an incredible picture of justification, which none of us could ever even begin to deserve. To think that Christ’s righteousness is credited to us breaks my heart yet simultaneously fills it with unspeakable joy.

Practically and personally, this has caused me to be grateful to Christ in a whole new perspective. I am so humbled to know that He claims His righteousness for His followers. I pray now, recognizing with greater depth than before, that Christ is our medium to God, and He lets us come forth as righteous followers of Him.

Rom. 8:29-34.

Blessings.