The third most amazing experience in a Christian’s life is the discovery of the justification and sanctification aspect of righteousness by faith. This experience is not often discovered immediately, but after seeking God and struggling ineffectively with one’s be setting sins, we will grasp the concept.
Justification means that God frees the believer from the guilt and penalty of sin and covers the repentant sinner with the righteousness (perfect obedience) of Christ.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
God’s forgiveness is so complete that He says:
“Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Heb. 10:17).
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:12).
Sanctification refers to the biblical truth that Jesus not only imputes His righteousness to you through justification, but He also imparts His righteousness to you for everyday living. Christ is not only a sin-pardoning Savior but a sin-delivering Savior. This happens as Christians learn to let Jesus live out His obedient life in and through them.
“It is through the baptism of the Holy Spirit that Christ lives in the believer:
“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:16-18, emphasis added).
Jesus wants to live out His life of obedience in every Christian. When we are tempted He wants us to turn to Him and ask Him to manifest His obedience in that area of our life. That is how the Christian experiences Christ’s sanctifying righteousness.
“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Rom. 8:3, 4).
“Notice that this scripture states that the “righteous requirement of the law” is to be fulfilled “in” us, not “by” us. As we learn how to let Jesus live out His righteous life in and through our daily life, we will experience immense joy. Christ’s justifying righteousness and sanctifying righteousness is our only hope of being righteous, our only hope of glorifying God.
“To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).
When tempted the Christian is to look to Jesus alone for deliverance:
“Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:1, 2).
The three experiences described in the first three days of this devotional study are more amazing and life–changing than anything else in this world. They are necessary experiences for those ready to meet Jesus when He returns. May you experience all three to the fullest in your life.”
Personal Reflection and Discussion
1. What does Christ’s justifying righteousness do for the believer?
2. When does the Christian usually experience the third amazing experience of Christ’s sanctifying righteousness?
3. How does Jesus live in Christians? How does He live in you?
4. What is the Christian to do in relation to Christ to overcome temptation?
5. What are the three amazing experiences described in the first three devotionals?
Prayer Activity
1. Call your prayer partner and discuss this devotional with him/her.
2. Pray with your prayer partner:
3. for God to baptize you with His Holy Spirit.
4. for Jesus to live out His righteous life in you every day.
5. for God to remind you to look to Jesus when you are tempted.
6. for the individuals on your prayer list.
Excerpt From: Dennis Smith. “40 Days.”