This podcast series on righteousness has grown out of an increasing revelation of the grace of God, the importance of understanding what Christ has accomplished for us, and a developing appreciation of my identity in Him. This series is devoted to helping you understand not just what righteousness is, but its powerful and practical implications for your life.

In the podcast, we will explore the 3 key ways we experience righteouness:

Righteousness declared - by virtue of your faith in Christ, you have been declared righteous, and holy, blameless and above reproach. This is called justification and it is a legal declaration that you possess a righteousness that perfectly and forever satisfies that law, namely Christ's righteousness (Col 1:22, 2 Cor 5:21, Heb 10:14). This is the starting point of understanding your privileged position in Christ. It has profound implications for your walk with God, your confidence before Him, and how you see yourself as a Christian, and even impacts how you receive others.

Righteousness recreated - not only have you been declared righteous, but you have also been recreated a new righteous creation in Christ (John 3:3-7, 2 Cor 5:17, Rom 6:4-7). The New Testament describes this as being born again (John 3:3-7) or regenerated (Titus 3:5). It's one thing to be declared righteous by a totally righteous and holy Judge, but it's another thing altogether to undergo an inner transformation of heart so we are no longer sinners by nature, dominated by our sinful nature we received from our father, Adam, and unable to do anything righteous in God's sight. Now, we are free and separated from our old sinful nature and are free to serve God in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Righteousness practiced - finally, and as a result of being declared and recreated righteous, a righteous life in which we imitate our Father in heaven is made a glorious reality (Eph 5:1). The New Testament writers call this sanctification. What was once an impossibility due to the domination and total control of our old sinful nature has become a way of life as we continue to yield and present our lives to God (Rom 6:12-13, 19, 22).

It is my sincere prayer that you are transformed by the message of righteousness. I trust that it radically alters your understanding of what Christ accomplished on the Cross and who you are in Him, by virtue of the grace and faith he has so freely given us. To God be all the glory!

You can download this Righteous in Christ series by visiting Righteous in Christ in the iTunes podcast section.