2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ has reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
How can we be new creations and still not be in right standing or be righteous before God? This wouldn't be a new creation, but one that's still under the very thing that held us back from God, since Adam's fall in the Garden of Eden. We seem to have difficulty distinguishing between the new creation family's Father and the God of the old covenant and His people. We still expect our Father to deal with us, in the same manner He dealt with the old covenant people.
The old covenant people weren't born-again and although they operated under the old covenant Law, they weren't considered to be righteous before God. Their sins needed to be covered daily, by the blood of bulls and goats that were sacrificed, in order for Him to be able to do anything for them. The blood of the bulls and goats could give Him the "right" to keep them. If the sacrifice for covering sin wasn't made, then God was obligated to "not bless" them.
The Blood of Jesus didn't cover our sins, but removed it completely (past, present and future). In Isaiah 54:13-15 (Amplified) God says, "All of your (spiritual) children shall be disciples (taught by the Lord and obedient to His will) and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children. You shall establish yourself in righteousness (rightness in conformity with God's will and order), you shall be far from even the thought of oppression or destruction, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you. Behold! they may gather together and stir up strife, but it is not from Me. Whoever stirs up strife against you shall fall and surrender to you."
The above scripture tells us to "Establish ourselves in righteousness," speaking about the Blood of Jesus that not only took the sin, but restored righteousness or right standing with God. Most of the sermons we've heard, have been directed to the soulish part of man, rather than to the new creation spirit. We've preached more to the feelings and senses, rather than to the newborn spirit. We've preached more to the conscious mind, instead of renewing the mind. We've been taught we should make up for our failures, instead of meditating on what Jesus has done for us. We've believed we've been forgiven, but not necessarily that we were cleansed from our entire past and have been elevated into the place of right standing with not only our God, but our Father.
Many in today's Church, seem to believe it's sacrilegious to declare you're righteous before God. When we fail to understand that we've been made to be the righteousness of God, then everything we do is hindered. Why would the Father answer prayer, if we were still in sin? Why would our righteousness only be for "when we die and get to Heaven?" How could we dare to believe that God would heal, bless, indwell or deliver any of us? Only those who are righteous or in right standing with Him, could dare to believe His Promises to His children. How could we believe we are His children and still be considered "sinners?"
Every believer should read Romans 1:17 (Amplified) and take it to heart. Thus, it says, "For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed. [Notice! It is a revelation] both springing from faith and leading to faith (disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith)." [Notice that God's ascribed way of righteousness is revealed through faith and now that we understand His revelation of our being righteous, our faith can grow and continue to become stronger] "As it is written, the man who through faith is just and upright, shall live and shall live by faith."
If you are a new creation man or woman, then you are already now living by that faith. Without putting faith towards salvation, then one remains dead in trespass and sin. The only life we have towards God, is the life that is now in the spirit of the new creation man. This is God's Own Life and His Life is righteous. You cannot be living the Life of God that was "ingrafted" in you through Jesus, and still be unrighteous in Him. This is why God said in Isaiah 54:14 (Amplified), "You shall establish yourself in righteousness." No one else can establish you in this righteousness, it must come by faith in your own heart. I can show you this from the Word, but you're the only one who can now "by faith establish" this Truth in your relationship with the Father. Some might call it "prideful," to declare you're righteous in God's eyes. I would say, that "It's prideful for you to hold onto what you think, in the Light of what God says about you." If God declares you are righteous before Him, because of Jesus, then who are you to say that Jesus wasn't enough to make you righteous? There is no more sacrifice, Jesus is the Last Sacrifice to be made. If He cannot establish this righteousness in you, then there's no hope of ever obtaining it any other way. It is a Gift of Grace!
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