RIGHTEOUS AND LOVED

Table of Contents

1. God's Master Plan: Doing What Man Could Not Do
2. Jesus Was Delivered for Our Offences and Raised for Our Justification
3. Justification: Just as if We Had Never Sinned
4. Righteousness Is a Gift, Not Something Earned
5. Peace with God Through Jesus Christ
6. Seeing Ourselves the Way the Father Sees Us
7. Living in God's Love and Righteousness

God's Master Plan: Doing What Man Could Not Do

Pastor Leonard begins by reminding everyone of Sunday's message about God's master plan. He explains that mankind could never save itself. No amount of effort, striving, sacrifices, offerings, gifts, or religious activity could rescue humanity from sin. Throughout history, man continually failed in his attempts to make himself acceptable before God.

Even under the sacrificial system that God established, mankind still failed because human effort could never remove sin permanently. Therefore, God stepped in and did what man could not do. He provided Jesus Christ as the perfect sacrifice.

The pastors emphasize the amazing truth that God provided Himself to satisfy His own holy and righteous requirements. Because of His love, holiness, and righteousness, God supplied the sacrifice that humanity could never provide. This reveals the greatness of God's master plan. He took care of the problem that mankind could never solve on its own.

Jesus Was Delivered for Our Offences and Raised for Our Justification

Pastor Lori reads:
Romans 4:25- "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."

The pastors explain that Jesus was delivered to death for humanity's sins, transgressions, and wrongdoings. He was crucified and sacrificed for every offense committed by mankind.

However, the resurrection was not merely a celebration that Jesus came back to life. The greater significance of the resurrection is that God raised a righteous man, and when He raised Jesus, He raised believers into righteousness with Him. The resurrection was God's declaration concerning every believer. Jesus was raised so that God could declare humanity righteous through faith in Christ.
This verse is central to understanding the Gospel because it shows both sides of redemption:
Jesus died because of our sins.
Jesus rose so that we could be declared righteous.

Justification: Just as if We Had Never Sinned

Pastor Lori shares that for many years justification was simply a theological word until she learned its practical meaning:
"Just as if I've never sinned." The pastors explain that people spend their entire lives trying to deal with the sin issue through works, effort, religious activities, sacrifices, and personal striving. Yet man always fails. God stepped in and completely solved the sin problem Himself.

Again, they return to:
Romans 4:25- "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."

They then connect this verse with another powerful truth:
2 Corinthians 5:21- "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."

Jesus knew no sin. He did not sin. Yet He was made to be sin with humanity's sin so that believers could become the righteousness of God. The pastors stress that believers cannot become any more righteous than the righteousness of God Himself because that is exactly the righteousness they have received through Christ.

Righteousness Is a Gift, Not Something Earned

Pastor Leonard explains that Paul did not originally write his letter in chapters and verses. Therefore, Romans 4:25 naturally flows directly into Romans 5:1.
Pastor Lori reads:|
Romans 4:25- "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."

Romans 5:1-2- "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

The word "therefore" is extremely important. Because Jesus was raised for our justification, believers are already justified by faith. The pastors emphasize that Paul does not say:
"Therefore, work at becoming righteous."
"Therefore, strive harder."
"Therefore, labor to achieve righteousness."

Instead, Scripture says that believers are already justified and righteous because of what Jesus has done. The resurrection was God's declaration that those who believe in Christ have been made righteous. The pastors state that if Christians would read and believe God's Word, they would understand what took place through Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. They then point to Paul's opening declaration in Romans:
Romans 1:16-17- "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."
The Gospel reveals God's righteousness to those who believe. The righteous live by faith, not by works, striving, or self-effort.

Peace with God Through Jesus Christ

The pastors once again read:
Romans 5:1-2- "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

Because believers have been justified, they now have peace with God. Pastor Leonard explains that this means God is now at peace with His children.
-He is pleased with them.
-He loves them.
-He accepts them.

This peace exists because believers have been declared righteous through faith in Jesus Christ. This truth excites the pastors because it changes the entire relationship between God and His people. Christians are no longer trying to gain God's approval. They already have it because of Jesus.

Seeing Ourselves the Way the Father Sees Us

The pastors observe that if most Christians were asked whether they are righteous, many would answer, "No." Many believers still think of themselves as unrighteous because they focus on their own failures. However, the pastors encourage believers to see themselves the way the Father sees them.
The Father sees His children as righteous because they are covered by the blood of Jesus. They are justified. They are accepted. They are righteous because of what Christ accomplished. The pastors encourage everyone to meditate on this truth:
"Just as if I've never sinned." Understanding righteousness transforms how believers see themselves and how they approach God.

Living in God's Love and Righteousness

Pastor Leonard closes by emphasizing that all of this is possible because of God's love. He mentions his book, The Two Greatest Sources of Power in the Life of a Believer, and explains that the two greatest sources of power are: God's love. God's righteousness.
The pastors announce that their next teaching will focus on understanding the importance of knowing that we are righteous and what that means in daily life. They conclude by thanking their listeners for their encouragement, support, gifts, offerings, and prayers, expressing gratitude for everyone who partners with their ministry.

Thank you for taking the time to read this teaching, "RIGHTEOUS AND LOVED." We pray that this message helps you understand that Jesus was delivered for your offenses and raised for your justification, and that through faith in Him you have been declared righteous and have peace with God. We hope this article blessed you. Please share this teaching with others so they too can discover the incredible truth that they are righteous and deeply loved by God.