Inherited Righteousness

Romans 5:18 (NET)  

Consequently, just as condemnation for all people came through one transgression, so too through the one righteous act came righteousness leading to life for all people.

Keneth got himself into trouble when he started following certain teachers who taught strange things. They taught him that his conduct as a young man didn’t matter much before God, because God deals with him based on the righteousness of Christ, so his conduct didn’t matter. They quoted the Bible verse above to buttress their point.

As a result of these doctrines, Kenneth sunk deeper and deeper into iniquity and made many mistakes that he lived to regret years later. The Lord restored him when he started reading Streamglobe devotional (Actual Name changed).

All human beings were made sinners because of the sin of the one man Adam. It is on that same basis that all who believe in Christ will be made righteousness by the righteousness of Christ the last Adam.

Now,  even though all were made sinners because of the sin of Adam,  the basis of God’s judgment on every individual person would be his individual actions (see Ecclesiastes 12:14). Before God, sinners are judged for their own sins, not for the sin of Adam. What Adam’s sin did was to open the door of sin to mankind,  such that the sinful nature became our nature by default.

But for those who believe in Christ,  His righteousness opens the doors of endless righteousness and holiness to us, such that if any man is in Christ,  sin would not have dominion over him.

Go into today remembering that people became sinners because of Adam’s sin,  but individuals will be judged and condemned because of their own sins which they have committed.

People become righteous because of Christ’s righteousness,  but people will be rewarded and elevated in God’s kingdom because of their obedience and service in [the doing of] righteousness (see 1 Cor 3:13-15, Mat 16:27, Rev 22:12).

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