Reason #9: Enslaved by Christ's Righteousness

Th 9th reason that I should preach the gospel daily to myself  brings a proper balance to the 7th reason that I posted yesterday. My righteous standing that is based on Christ alone and not my performance, is in no way a license to sin, but  rather is the motivating , empowering, controlling factor in my daily battle to not sin.

"The righteousness of God, credited to me through Christ, is not merely something I rest in, but it is also the premier saving reality by which God governs me. According to Romans 6, when I obeyed the gospel call I was both declared righteous and 'became a slave to righteousness' at the same time. Quite literally, the, the righteousness that God credited to me became my master on the day I was converted! And now I am daily called by God to surrender the members of my being as slaves to do whatever this righteousness dictates (Romans 6:19).

That I would be called to present my members as slaves of the imputed righteousness implies that my justification has something to say to me by way of directing me how to live my life each day. What it directs me to do is to be holy; and what results from my obedience to its rule is sanctification, or holiness of life (Romans 6:19). Hence, it could be said that 'sanctification is merely the life long practice of wherein I surrender my self to God's imputed righteousness and then do whatever this righteousness directs me to do.  Indeed, God has clothed me with His righteousness. Now He wants this righteousness to master me.

The more I exult in the reality of my justification in Christ, the more I position myself to experience the full force of its sanctifying power in my life. And the more sanctified I become, the more I experience the full breadth of eternal life that God has given me in Christ."   -Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer for Christians, p.21

Are you resting in, and enslaved to, Christ's righteousness today?