II Peter 1:1. “Simon Peter, s servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ.”
The faith of Jesus Christ is OBTAINED not earned. The word “obtained” means to secure by lot; to receive by allotment; a share or a portion. No person deserves the precious faith of Jesus Christ. No person can work and earn it. It is a gift of God, a free gift that is given to every person who believes in Jesus Christ.
The faith of Jesus Christ comes through the righteousness of Christ. What is the righteousness of Christ?
The righteousness of Christ means that He is the righteous MAN, the perfect and ideal MAN who can stand for and cover all men. Man is not perfect, but imperfect and unrighteous. Therefore man, by his very nature cannot live in God’s presence, for God is perfect and the very embodiment of righteousness. How then can man ever become acceptable to God and be allowed to live in God’s presence? Jesus Christ is the answer, for He is the Righteousness of God.
When a man believes in Jesus Christ – really believes – God takes that man’s faith and counts it (his faith) as righteousness. The man is not righteous; he and everyone know it. But God counts his faith and belief as righteousness. Why would God do such an incredible thing: Because God loves His Son that much and God loves man that much. God loves so much that He will take any man who honors His Son by believing in Him and count that man’s faith as though it were the real thing righteousness. Very simply stated, Jesus Christ is the righteousness of God. He is the only way a man can become righteous and acceptable to God. You are the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Much Love,
Because He Is – I Am
The Presider
