Righteousness: Right Living
STOP AND THINK: Upon believing in Jesus Christ’s substitutionary death and bodily resurrection, the once-lost sinner is instantly, unconditionally, and permanently “declared 100% righteous.” Anything less and we are not righteous . . . we’re almost righteous.
If we were declared 99.9% righteous, some verses would have to be rewritten. Like Isaiah 1:18, which might then read: “‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be light pink.’”
Nonsense! The promise of sins forgiven is all or nothing. Eighty percent won’t cut it . . . or 90% . . . or 99 and 44/100% . . . or 99.9%. Let’s face it, 0.1% is still sinful. I mean, would you drink a gallon of water with only one tiny drop of strychnine in it? Would you feel comfortable having a surgeon cut on you who was wearing almost-sterile gloves?
When our Lord said “It is finished,” he meant “finished.” The colossal ransom for sin was fully paid. He satisfied the Father’s demand.
CHARLES SWINDOLL
THE FINISHING TOUCH
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