Awakened To Righteousness

Ps. Brenden Brown | August 10, 2025

Genesis 15:6 says, “Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.”

Before Abraham had done anything to prove himself, he simply believed. That belief was enough for God to count him as righteous. The same is true for us today.

What is righteousness?

Righteousness means being in right standing with God—accepted, approved, and declared just in His sight.

• Old Testament (tsedaqah): Living in alignment with God’s covenant.

• New Testament (dikaiosynē): God’s declaration that we are right with Him because of Jesus, not our own works.

Righteousness is not something we achieve. It is a gift we receive. Even our best efforts fall short (Isaiah 64:6), but God freely gives us His righteousness through faith in Jesus (Romans 3:22–24).

We don’t work for righteousness; we work from righteousness.

It is like having nothing in our account, and then a billionaire transfers their entire fortune to us. That is what God has done for us in Christ.

The great exchange

Second Corinthians 5:21 declares that Jesus took our sin and gave us His righteousness. This is the great exchange. Abraham believed God’s promise before he ever saw it fulfilled, and that belief was enough. Our faith in Jesus works the same way.

Living awakened to righteousness

Romans 5:17 says, “those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life.” This is what it looks like to live in that reality:

1. Receive it
   We stop striving to earn what Jesus has already finished. Righteousness is not achieved; it is received.

2. Renew our minds
   Romans 12:2 tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. What God has already declared true, we must awaken to.

3. Reckon it true
   Romans 6:11 calls us to count ourselves alive to God and dead to sin. Identity drives behavior. A prince raised in poverty will live beneath his calling until he realizes who he is. We live right because we are right.

4. Reject condemnation
   We run to God when we fail, not away from Him. Many live forgiven but still carry guilt. We wake up to what is already true.

5. Reign in life
   Righteousness empowers us to pray boldly, live free, and walk in victory.

Why this matters

When we awaken to righteousness:

• We stop striving for God’s approval and begin living from it.

• We are bold in His presence.

• We walk in victory over sin.

• We leave a legacy of faith for the next generation (Galatians 3:6–9).