God is righteous (1 John 2:29) and He looks at our righteousness as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). No one is righteous and none of us can become righteous on our own (Romans 3:9, 10).

In the Old Testament, Abraham’s faith in God was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6). Likewise, when we exercise our faith on the finished work of Jesus Christ, God sees us through the righteousness of Jesus Christ to declare that we are righteous (Romans 4:5, 6). This act is called Justification. Justification, which causes us to become righteous instantly is termed Positional or Imputed Righteousness.

After being declared righteous, the Holy Spirit takes over the work of Sanctification to change us from glory to glory to the likeness of Jesus Christ  (2 Corinthians 3:18). Sanctification, unlike justification is a process of a lifetime and the progress we make with the intervention of the Holy Spirit is called Progressive or Imparted Righteousness. God has made a provision for us, that if we sin inadvertently during the process of sanctification, we can always seek forgiveness by confessing our sins to Jesus Christ, who is faithful and just to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Apostle Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:13 says, that we are being sanctified by the Holy Spirit through our belief in the truth of God’s word.

When the Righteous Judge lays upon us a crown of righteousness through the act of Glorification (2 Timothy 4:8), this is called Perfected Righteousness.

Thought for the day

Positional Righteousness through Justification negates the penalty of sin.

Progressive Righteousness through Sanctification negates the power of sin.

Perfected Righteousness through Glorification negates the presence of sin.