A GIFT WELL DESERVED
For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).
There’s something profoundly beautiful about the righteousness we have in Christ Jesus: even though it was given to us as a gift, it is a gift well deserved.
Someone might say, “But I thought it was an unmerited favour?” Not exactly; righteousness wasn’t given to us as an unmerited favour but as a well-deserved gift of grace, and I’ll explain.First, understand that Christianity didn’t begin before the Cross, on the Cross, or even from the Cross; it began after the resurrection. What does this mean? When God raised Jesus from the dead, He raised Him with the righteousness of God. And the Bible says we were raised together with Him. When the Lord Jesus was raised from the dead, He was born again.
Recall the prophetic words of the Psalmist, echoed by Paul in Acts 13:33, “God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.” The Lord Jesus was the first of the new creation, and we were made alive together with Him. In Him, you became a new creation, not a sinner in need of mercy.
All your sins were buried with Christ. Your old nature
was crucified with Him. Everything about you that was condemned or condemnable was nailed to the Cross with Him. Romans 6:4 says, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” So, when Jesus was raised from the dead, we were born into a newness of life; we were born with His righteousness. It wasn’t unmerited!
We deserved what we got because we’re born of Him. We belong to Him. Let this understanding guide your walk with God! This is the very message He sent us to preach and teach. He wants the world to know that they’ve been made righteous in Christ Jesus. They don’t have to struggle for it; they don’t have to try to attain it, because it’s unattainable. It’s a gift purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ; a gift well deserved, for He paid the price to make it so. Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for granting me the understanding and revelation of my righteousness in Christ Jesus. I walk boldly in the consciousness that I was raised together with Christ, justified, perfected and born righteous. I reign in life, expressing your nature and fulfilling your will with boldness and joy, in Jesus’ Name. Amen
If you’re blessed by this devotional, believing every words you heard by faith in your heart, and would love to make Jesus the lord of your life, then speak the confessions below out loud, and mean them with your heart:
“O Lord God, I believe with all my heart in Jesus Christ, Son of the living God. I believe He died for me and God raised Him from the dead. I believe He’s alive today. I confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is the Lord of my life from this day. Through Him and in His Name, I have eternal life; I’m born again. Thank you Lord, for saving my soul! I’m now a child of God. Hallelujah!”
If you just said the prayer of salvation, we have a free gift for you, but first kindly click on this link, so we can connect with you, and help you grow in Christ.
Then click here to get your free gift. Thank you and God bless you.
Message by Rev. Chris Oyakhilome Dsc. Dsc. DD.
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 5:12–17 (KJV)
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Romans 6:4 (NIV)
4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Matthew 19:1-15 &
Exodus 13-14
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Acts 13:1-12 &
Job 24-25
