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     Last week we considered the first “in Him” blessing the apostle Paul referred to in the opening of his letter to the Ephesians, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).  The first and primary blessing is the forgiveness of sins.  Once having forgiveness (pardon), opens the door to all of the “in Him” blessings.

     A blessing, which follows forgiveness is righteousness.  Referring to his own salvation in Christ, the apostle Paul gave up all of his previous life to “… be found in Him,… which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith” (Philippians 3:9).  He wrote in another letter, “just as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness… So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham” (Galatians 3:6, 9).  What does it mean to be accounted as righteous?

     “All unrighteousness is sin” (1 John 5:17).  Conversely, righteousness is having no sin.  We know that no one goes through a day without sin.  Of his own life, Paul revealed, “For what I am doing, I do not understand.  For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do…. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me” (Romans 7:15-20).  In the previous chapter, he identified the weakness each of us suffers, “I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh… so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness” (Romans 6:19).

     Being declared righteous is a marvelous “in Him” blessing.  Even though a Christian has committed oneself to follow God according to the New Testament, one still sins.  Even so, as long as a Christian is focused upon living for Jesus, He is forgiven, thus being declared righteous – “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light… the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).  “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).  Forgiveness, justification & righteous “in Him!”

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