1. The Righteousness of God Pastor Kenneth Ortiz 7/23/06 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

2. The Righteousness of God 2 Corinthians 5:17-19: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

3. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21: We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

4. What is The Righteousness of God? Righteous: morally upright; without guilt or sin; to be in right-standing; possessing the ability to live in accordance with being right Righteousness: adhering to moral principles; a place or standing of justification you have achieved; the highest level of standards possible

5. What is The Righteousness of God? Righteousness of God: · The state of being righteous · Achievement of perfection & blamelessness · Being at the highest level possible · Being made right in the eyes of God

6. How Do We Become The Righteousness of God? Romans 3:21-24: But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

7. How Do We Become The Righteousness of God? Romans 4:1-3: What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about— but not before God. What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

8. How Do We Become The Righteousness of God? Philippians 3:7-9: But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ— the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

9. If you are a Christian, than you are already the righteousness of God and you have been justified!

10. Justification vs. Pardon PardonJustified You are guilty but you do not have to pay the penalty of that guilt. It has been suspended. Declares that you never were guilty in the first place and that you are 100% without guilt.

11. We have been justified by faith!

12. The Righteousness of God Galatians 2:16,21: Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!

13. The Righteousness of God Galatians 3:6-9: Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

14. The Righteousness of God Galatians 3:26,29: You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

15. How does this affect our everyday lives? Proverb 21:21: He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. Hebrews 4:16: Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

16. How does this affect our everyday lives? Romans 8:1, 14-17: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs— heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.

17. The Righteousness of God Kenneth Ortiz 7/23/06 2 Corinthians 5:17-21