The 12 Gifts of Christmas
12 days featuring 12 gifts we receive because of Jesus.
Gift #2: The GIFT of Righteousness!
If you are a Christian, you have been judged as righteous because of Jesus Christ: acquitted of all crimes, and declared innocent and FREE!
Why are many under a cloud of oppression and depression? Why do many lack true joy? Could it be that either they have never received the gift of righteousness? Or could it be that they have forgotten about this costly Gift of being declared righteous because of Jesus’ righteousness?
The gift of righteousness is the act of erasing all debts against the moral law. All crimes we have committed incur a payment or debt against us. All sin has a penalty. And that penalty is death.
In fact, Paul reminds the church “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness…” (Romans 1:18). We read the same in John 3:36 “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
But the GIFT of righteous through a life committed to Jesus Christ delivers us from God’s wrath and the love of God is poured into our hearts!
Paul says it this way: “For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages (the price or debt) of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:20-23) And “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
And John says, “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
So remember that this rare, one-of-a-kind Gift was paid for by Jesus Christ, was given from your Heavenly Father, and was delivered by the Holy Spirit. You can’t buy this gift. And there is no other gift available anywhere else that makes one righteous.
But also remember with gratitude that the price of this gift required the death of Jesus so you could live eternally free in God’s presence!
With much love in Christ,
Jeff
