Jesus Took My Sin So I Could Be Counted Righteous

You heard me right, Jesus took my sin on himself so that I could be counted righteous.

“¹¹Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;

by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,

make many to be accounted righteous,

and he shall bear their iniquities.”

— Isaiah 53:11 (ESV)

“³⁸Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, ³⁹and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.” – Acts 13:38-39 (ESV)

I owe Jesus so much and yet will never be able to repay Him for the one act of dying for me. Yes, I said that right, He died for me. He did it so that I could be elevated to be called righteous.

No, I do not see myself as righteous, as I have said, only God can declare as righteous. But I can and will perform righteous acts. These acts are in obedience to the LORD and to say thank you for being there for me. Thanks for comforting and guiding me. Thanks for the forgiveness of my sins. Thanks for dying for me. Even as I know that I will not be able to repay His act of love for me, I still must continue offering myself to Him in obedience.

Jesus died for me, intentionally. Yes, He did it on purpose and it was righteous. He only asked if there was another way for the Father’s will to be done. What a show of love to me. Jesus said if there was another way to fulfill the LORD’s plan that would be preferred, yet if death is the only way, He was willing to do whatever the LORD had for Him to provide salvation for me. This is the example for me and my service to the LORD. I should ask if there is another way, but be willing to do whatever is asked, knowing that those actions are righteous in the eyes of the LORD.

Jesus was counted as righteous so that I could be counted as righteous. Notice the word “could” used as I write. I am intentional with the word as I am not righteous just because of Jesus’ death. I am only given the opportunity to be counted as righteous. I have work to do and that work is for the LORD. I have accepted the free gift of salvation and am doing the work for the LORD, and thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus and His grace, I am hopeful that I will be counted as righteous. But, I do not see myself as there yet, I still have work to do. As long as I am here in this world, I have work to do for the LORD and I will learn of my righteous status when I meet the LORD in heaven.

What are your thoughts on your becoming righteous? Do you see yourself having arrived there already? What if you looked as I do in that you have been given the opportunity to be counted as righteous thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus, yet you have work to do?