How are believers declared righteous?
Believers are declared righteous through the gospel, the one and only message Paul preached, which they received and in which they stand. By that gospel they are saved and made righteous, declared righteous by an imputation of God Himself. This is the gospel of salvation.
Les teaches that the gospel is the clearest definition of the gospel of salvation, found in 1 Corinthians 15:1. Paul writes to the Corinthian believers, declaring the gospel he preached, which they received and wherein they stand. By this gospel they are saved. Les explains that another word for saved is made righteous: believers are not only saved from hellfire but have been declared righteous by an imputation of God Himself.