Struttin' His Stuff

So just how practical is the fact that God has given to you the perfect righteousness of Jesus? Do you feel particularly secure because you have the spot-on perfect right doing of Jesus as your own?

I think it’s common that many of us value it very little. We sort of keep it in the closet or locked up in a safe deposit box for when we really need it, like after we’ve taken a dive into sin. It doesn’t do us much good on a regular basis, but we’re glad we’ve got it. And that’s too bad. Here’s why: we’re not living by faith.

As I walk around in the day pondering the incredible fact that I have the righteousness of Jesus as my own, I realize a power in my life—the power of the gospel. A couple of verses will help.

“It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” (1 Cor 1:30)

See? It was always God’s intention that you would be given the righteousness, holiness and redemption of Jesus Himself. How cool is that?! Before all of creation, God is on parade through you. You’re struttin’ His stuff. You’re lookin’ good.

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16)

We shouldn’t think that the gospel, the power of God, is His power only to get people in the door of heaven, the gospel of initial salvation. In this verse, “salvation” means the on-going soundness or stability of the believer, Jew and Gentile alike. I’m not saying that the gospel isn’t for getting people saved when they believe it—it is. But it is also the vital treatment regimen or the prescription of God for the health of His patients. It’s God’s wellness program.

Take God’s gift to you in Christ out of the lock box and try it on. Take a look at yourself in the mirror and see how it feels as you walk about. I think it will change your day because you’ll be living by faith in it. I think you’ll like that, and so will He.

You’re struttin’ His stuff.