For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).

The Bible definition of righteousness doesn’t mean right living; right living is a result of righteousness. You can’t live right until you’re righteous. Thus, righteousness, essentially, is a nature; the nature of God that produces in a human person, the rightness of God. That nature or ability to do right was imparted to your spirit when you were born again. Thus, your true and only nature is one of righteousness.

I’ve heard some people say that when a person is born again, his old nature and the new nature in Christ co-exist, but that’s not true. Now that you’re born again, the life and nature of God has completely supplanted the human life and nature with which you were born by your biological parents. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

The man who’s born again is a completely new species, one that never existed before. He has only one nature, which is the divine nature—the nature of righteousness: “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4). There’s no other nature in you except the nature of God, which is the nature of righteousness.

This is why it’s possible for you to live right and do the will of God. The righteousness of God in you is a force that causes you to do the will of God.

PRAYER

Dear Father, I thank you for I’ve received the gift of righteousness; therefore, I reign in life, over and above the world’s system that condemns. I have right standing in your presence because every form of guilt and condemnation has been taken away, and I’ve received of your nature of righteousness, and walk accordingly, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Psalms 135-138

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Luke 18:35-43
1 Samuel 13

FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 5:1
Romans 8:1-4