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A person walks out of a courtroom into the light, leaving open handcuffs behind

DEVOTIONAL NO. 29 GRACE & SALVATION

Becoming the Righteousness of God in Christ

Our salvation does not rise and fall with our works, because Jesus’ work permanently changes our identity into people who are righteous and pleasing in God’s sight.

2 min read Assurance of Salvation Justification Identity in Christ

A criminal enters a courtroom. He is pardoned and declared not guilty (justified). Does that guarantee that he will never do evil again? Of course not. “Justified” here is merely his position or status at that moment, but he might fail to value his freedom and commit evil again.

This is the argument often used by teachers or churches that do not believe in the assurance of salvation. They regard justification as a one-time event, but after that, human beings must struggle to keep themselves from falling into sin again. Otherwise, salvation or justification is considered something that can be lost.

Let us look at 2 Corinthians 5:21. The Indonesian translation says:

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might be justified by God.

— 2 Corinthians 5:21, translated from the Indonesian rendering

At first glance, that seems reasonable, does it not? We are “only” justified, just like the criminal in the courtroom illustration. But I say that this translation does not accurately capture the depth of its meaning.

In the original language (Greek), as well as in English translations such as the NIV, NASB, and NKJV, it says that Jesus became sin (a noun), and that we become the righteousness of God (a noun). Do you see the difference?

In Jesus, we are not merely “justified” (a verb); we become the righteousness (a noun) of God. This means that what Jesus did does not merely change our legal status at that moment. It completely changes our identity so that we become people who are righteous and pleasing in God’s sight.

Therefore, I hope that God’s family will truly understand that our salvation is not something that rises and falls depending on our works, because our identity has been permanently changed in Jesus.

Have a blessed day.

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