Have you been taught to measure your standing before God by your feelings, your performance, or the strength of your faith? The gospel of Christ dismantles this entire system. It proclaims a settled, unshakeable position for every believer—one that is anchored not in your conscience, but in Christ’s finished work. This is not a secondary matter; it is the very foundation of your justification, your inheritance, and your sonship.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)
Christ’s Blood: The End of Wrath, the Beginning of Peace
Let us be clear: your deliverance from God’s wrath was accomplished entirely apart from you. Before you ever knew His name, Christ entered the heavenly sanctuary and placed His own blood on the mercy seat. God accepted that blood on your behalf. His wrath was satisfied, peace was made, and your sins were blotted out as a thick cloud—never again to be remembered in God’s sight. This is not a process waiting for your cooperation; it is a finished act in heaven.
When you believed in Jesus, God reckoned that blood to your account as righteousness. Justification is not merely the removal of guilt. It is the positive imputation of Christ’s own righteousness to you—a righteousness that qualifies you for glory, inheritance, and sonship.
Justification: Not Just “As If You Never Sinned”
Some reduce justification to “just as if I never sinned.” That is true, but it is only the negative side. The positive side is far greater: justification fully qualifies you to be enthroned with Christ, to inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, and to be an heir of the world to come. Christ’s righteousness makes you a member of His Body—the very masterpiece of God, the fullness of Christ Himself (Eph 1:23). You are a son of God, a king and a priest, destined to reign with Christ (Rev 5:10). You are now a member of God’s house, a fellow citizen with the saints, being built as God’s eternal dwelling (Eph 2:19-22).
This is not some future hope, but your present position. You have been qualified—fully and irrevocably—by God Himself.
The Spectacle of Righteousness: God’s Justice on Display
Your righteousness in Christ is not a mere legal fiction. It is a spectacular garment, dazzling in the heavens, that God Himself has placed upon you (Is 61:10). The angels and cherubim surround the throne, beholding the blood sprinkled on the mercy seat. They see God vindicated—His justice and righteousness displayed in justifying you. Their cry of “Holy, Holy, Holy” is not only worship of God’s character, but of His redemptive work, His perfect justice in making you an heir (Rom 3:26). This is the glory of God’s salvation: not just that you are forgiven, but that you are exalted, enthroned, and made a spectacle of His grace before all creation.
The Evil Conscience: The Great Accuser
Yet, the evil conscience wars against this truth. It accuses you, drowns you in shame, and whispers that Christ’s blood is not enough. It insists you must do more, be more, feel more. It tells you that your standing is as fragile as your mood or your faith. This is a lie. If you listen, you will forfeit the assurance and joy of your inheritance. Worse, you will undermine the very justice of God, as if His acceptance of Christ’s blood were not sufficient.
What Is Lost If You Accept the Error
If you allow your conscience, your feelings, or the strength of your faith to determine your standing, you lose everything the gospel secures. You lose the certainty of justification, the assurance of sonship, the boldness of your inheritance, and the rest that comes from Christ’s finished work. You will live as a spiritual orphan, always striving, never arriving, and always doubting whether God is truly for you. This is not a minor error—it is a collapse of the very foundation of the Christian life.
The Irrevocable Gift: Rest in Christ’s Work
Hear this: Even if your faith is weak, even if you cry out, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief,” you are justified. The righteousness of Christ is yours, not because of the strength of your faith, but because of the object of your faith—Jesus Christ, who died for your sins, rose for your justification, and is coming to receive you into glory. Your position is settled in the heavens, apart from how you feel about yourself. God’s verdict is final.
You are not merely forgiven. You are enthroned, adorned, and qualified. God’s justice is vindicated in justifying you. The angels see it and worship. Let no accusation, no shame, no evil conscience rob you of this settled position. Stand in it. Rejoice in it. This is your inheritance, now and forever.
