1 Corinthians 1:30. And because of [God] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
Let’s be clear, Jesus is everything. He is our start and our finish. Our beginning and our end. He is all of our salvation. In Christ, Jesus is our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. And that’s everything.
Some see religion like a mountain where God sits on top waiting for us to make the slow and treacherous climb up the mountain to him. Good works and sincerity will get you there eventually. In every other faith, the prophet or messenger of God told the way to righteousness, holiness, and salvation. They gave the mantras, principles, and rules necessary for the dedicated followers to find their way up the mountain to God’s wisdom. Ten Commandments. Five Pillars. Eight-Fold Path. All roads will eventually get you to God.
But the gospel of Jesus Christ is much different. Jesus does not simply show us the way to God; he became to us the way to God. He doesn’t simply teach us the truth; he became to us the truth. He doesn’t simply show us how to live a good life; he became to us our good life.
He became our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. These three words sum up the whole of our salvation in Christ.
Redemption. In Christ, we have been redeemed, purchased out from our slavery to sin and set free indeed. Now by the Spirit of Christ, we are possessed by God – his people set free to the glory of his matchless grace, that we might declare his excellencies to all around us.
Sanctification. In Christ, we are not only redeemed from our slavery to sin, but we are also declared sanctified, holy, and set apart. Jesus’ indwelling life separates us unto God.
Think back for a moment to the vessels in the Israelite temple. What made these objects holy? First, they were holy because they were simply declared by God to be holy. Then they were holy because they were used for a holy purpose. That’s us! We are made holy in order to be holy. We have been declared holy by God in Christ, and through Christ in us, we are used by God for a holy purpose each day. What is our holy purpose? Display the glory of God’s grace to a broken world.
Righteousness. In Christ we have God’s righteousness imputed (credited) to us by grace, and we are God’s instruments of righteousness.
All throughout the Old Testament righteousness was something you did in order to be. Now, in Christ, righteousness is something we are in order to do. Now God’s standard of justice is our life’s calling. We are called out of darkness into marvelous light to bring God’s restorative justice and goodness to the world around us in his name.
To live is Christ is to embrace that it is finished. Our salvation is complete in him. Our redemption, our sanctification, our righteousness, Jesus has become all for us. All by his grace.
You: Are you trying to do in order to be, or are you trusting that you are in order to do?
You in Christ: Do you really believe that you are the righteousness, sanctification, and redemption of God? How would your life change today if you really believed this?
Christ in you: How can your life reflect Jesus’ righteousness, holiness, and freedom today?
To Live is Christ 