Introduction
If you were to stand before God today, with nothing hidden, would you stand in confidence or in condemnation? If we’re honest, most of us would not feel confident. Why? Because deep down, we know we have fallen short. We have sinned and we are far from perfect. And that’s exactly where the gospel meets us – not at our strength, but at our need.
In Jeremiah 23:6, God reveals His name as Jehovah Tsidkenu – The Lord Our Righteousness. He is not only righteous – He becomes our righteousness. And that changes everything because righteousness is not something we achieve – it is something God provides through Jesus Christ.
In 2 Corinthians 5:21, it says that in Christ, we become the righteousness of God. And Romans 4:5 also tells us this comes by faith, not by works. So, we are not made right with God by what we do, but by what Christ has done.
The Problem and the Revelation: From Our Inability to God’s Righteousness
Romans 3:23 says all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. And Isaiah 64:6 tells us that even our righteous acts are like filthy rags before Him. That means even at our best, we are not enough. We cannot fix ourselves. We cannot erase our guilt or transform our hearts.
The world tells us: “Try harder. Do more. Be better.” And yes, effort can improve our lives, but it cannot cleanse our souls. It cannot remove guilt before a holy God. It can never restore a broken relationship with Him.
And here is the good news: What we could never do, God has done for us. At the cross, Jesus took our sin and in exchange, gave us right standing with God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 declares, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” Because of this, we no longer have to bear the wages of our sin – the penalty has been fully paid by Jesus.
But this gift is not received automatically – it calls for a response. We are invited to acknowledge our sin, turn to Him in faith and place our trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. And in that moment of surrender, we receive not only forgiveness, but the gift of being made right with God – the gift of righteousness.
This is the great exchange: Our sin for His righteousness, our guilt for His grace. Our brokenness for His wholeness. So, the question is no longer, “Have I done enough?” The real question is, “Will I trust what He has already done?”
A Real-Life Picture
Let’s look at Mary Magdalene. She was once bound and broken by her past. But when she encountered Jesus, everything changed. Jesus did not define her by her past. He restored her by His grace and transformed her. Her life moved from shame to freedom, from bondage to devotion. And she became one of the most devoted followers of Jesus, even being among the first to witness His resurrection.
Church, this is not just her story. This is our story too. Like Abraham, who “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3), we too are made right with God not by striving but by trusting.
When we seek Jesus, He meets us. And though we may not see Him physically as Mary Magdalene did, what we experience is just as real, just as powerful, and deeply personal. And when we receive Him into our hearts, we are no longer defined by our past. We are not labelled by our failures or held captive by our shame. We are made new. And when this truth truly takes hold, our lives, like Mary’s, begin to reflect it – not out of obligation but out of love.
A Personal Reflection
There was a season in my life when I tried to make myself right before God on my own. I thought if I tried hard enough, I would get there – but the more I tried, the more I realised I couldn’t. And it was there, at that breaking point that I stopped striving and began to understand what it truly means to surrender to God.
By His grace, this truth became real to me – not just something I knew, but something I experienced. And I share this not to draw attention to myself, but to point you to the power of God’s grace and righteousness.
I was once bound by smoking addiction. I grew up in an environment where it felt normal – even acceptable. What began casually, something that seemed harmless slowly became a chain. Over time, it gained control over me and I found myself turning to it for comfort.
As I grew closer to God, I felt a deep conviction to stop. I tried again and again but I couldn’t. The more I relied on my own strength, the more I failed, until eventually, I stopped trying altogether. That’s when shame quietly crept in… I started to feel unworthy before God, and began distancing myself from Him, weighed down by this lingering thought: “Christ died for me, yet I can’t even stop smoking for Him.” At that point, it wasn’t just the addiction anymore – it was the guilt that held me captive.
Maybe some of us know that feeling – not just with habits, but with sin, with guilt, with struggles we cannot seem to overcome. And this is what I learned: I could not break the chain on my own. There came a moment of true surrender where I simply said, “Lord, if You want me to stop, You will have to do it because I can’t.” And He did.
One day, I heard a voice say: “You will never smoke another cigarette again.” In that moment, something shifted – I knew I was being set free. Just like that, what had held me for over 20 years was broken instantly by His power. For me, God did it instantly. For others, He may work gradually but the power is the same.
The desire was gone. The craving disappeared. Even the smell of cigarettes became unbearable. I did not change myself – I could not. But when I surrendered, God did what I never could. The guilt lifted, the striving ceased, and my soul found rest.
And here’s the truth: When you know you are right with God, you begin to live differently. Because righteousness doesn’t just bring peace – it releases power. Romans 5:17 says we can reign in life through Christ.
That means we live from victory, not for victory.
- We are no longer fighting alone but walking with God.
- We are not trying harder but trusting deeper.
- We are no longer controlled but being transformed.
We are no longer defeated people. We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus.
And while God has completely set me free, I’m still on a journey. There are still areas where I continue to grow, and moments when I fall short. I still face struggles and experience weakness at times, for sanctification is an ongoing process. Yet by His grace, I am no longer who I used to be. My identity is in Christ. I belong to Him, and day by day, He is transforming me from within.
This is God’s desire for us – not just forgiveness, but transformation. Not just being declared righteous, but learning to live in that righteousness daily.
Conclusion
In conclusion, let me return to the question: If you were to stand before God today, would you stand in confidence or in condemnation? In ourselves, we may feel unworthy. But in Christ, we can stand confident. Not because we are perfect but because He is our righteousness.
The same God who set me free is still setting people free today. The same power that broke chains in my life is still breaking chains right now. Perhaps some of you are tired – tired of trying, tired of failing. Tired of carrying guilt that never seems to go away. You’ve been striving in your own strength but the gospel is not calling you to try harder. It is inviting you to trust deeper.
So, the question is: Will you keep striving or will you surrender? Because if God can break what you cannot break, and change what you cannot change, then your answer is not more effort – it is surrender.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:6: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled…” So, come as you are – not cleaned up, not fixed. Just come. Lay down the guilt. Lay down the striving, and receive what Christ has already done.
Because the Lord is our righteousness. In Him, we are made new. He is Jehovah Tsidkenu.
(Shared at Sunday service on 3 May 2026)
Dolly's Sharing 