We are made the righteousness of God in Christ when God imputes His own righteousness to us by faith in what Christ accomplished on the cross.
God does the work. When we believe the gospel consisting of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, He credits His righteousness to our account. Because Christ paid the full penalty for sin, God remains just while justifying the one who believes. No human works contribute to this righteousness.
Romans 3:22 — This verse directly states that God's righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
Scripture presents a righteousness from God that is completely apart from the law. Romans 3:22 declares: Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: This righteousness is not earned by law-keeping or by religious works; it comes through faith in Christ. Romans 3:25-26 explains the basis for this: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. God can justly justify sinners because Christ's blood paid the penalty for sin. Paul also identifies the gospel that brings this salvation in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: Romans 5:18 summarizes the result: Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
Les Feldick teaches that the moment a person believes the gospel, God performs an act of imputation—He covers the believer with His own righteousness. Les repeatedly emphasizes that none of our own righteousness is involved; God sees His own righteousness, not ours. Faith in the gospel is the only condition, and even that faith is directed toward what God has done through the cross. He explains that in the death and blood of Christ, God satisfied His own justice, so He can now be just and justify the sinner who believes. Les also teaches that when God considers the old sin nature crucified, the believer receives a new divine nature set in opposition to the old Adamic nature. The old nature remains in actual experience, but the new nature is the result of God's work in the believer. Les warns against reducing salvation to the cliché taking Christ as personal Savior. Instead, he insists the Bible says we must believe the gospel, and believing means understanding that Christ died our death and took our punishment.
Les Feldick explains that God is not winking at sin or cutting corners. Christ paid the total price for sin on the cross, so God is just in justifying the person who believes. He refers to Romans 3:26, where God is shown to be just and the justifier of those who believe, and to Romans 5:18, where the righteousness of one brings justification of life.
Les Feldick is clear that righteousness is received by believing the gospel—not by working, not by deserving it. He says God imputes His righteousness to our account as a result of our believing. The emphasis is on faith in Christ's shed blood and in the gospel Paul preached, which is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.
Les teaches that when God considers the old sin nature crucified, Christ begins to live in the believer, and a new, divine nature is set opposite the old Adamic nature. The old nature is still present in actual experience, but the believer now has a new nature that God has created. This is part of what it means to be in Christ.
New Nature in the Believer
At the moment of belief, God considers the old sin nature crucified and gives the believer a new divine nature set opposite the old Adamic nature.
Righteousness Apart from Law
Righteousness comes by faith in Jesus Christ, not by law-keeping or religious practice.
Imputed Righteousness by Faith
God imputes His righteousness to us as a result of believing the gospel, not because we deserve it.
Covered with God's Righteousness
God covers believers with an imputed righteousness that is entirely His, not an ounce of our own.
Faith in His Shed Blood
Through faith in Christ's shed blood, God declares His righteousness and justifies the person who believes.
Starting with Faith
Faith begins by admitting we are sinners and trusting God's declaration that we can be justified freely.
Imputation at the Moment of Faith
The moment we believe God, He covers us or gives to our account His righteousness.
God Just and Justifier
Because Christ paid the total price for sin, God is just in justifying those who believe, without compromising His righteousness.
Romans 3:22: Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
This is the key verse showing that God's righteousness is received by faith in Christ, not by works.
Romans 3:25: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Christ's blood is the propitiation that makes God's declaration of righteousness possible.
Romans 3:26: To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
God remains just while justifying the believer because of what Christ accomplished.
Romans 5:18: Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
The righteousness of Christ brings justification of life to all who receive it.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
This is the gospel Paul preached, and believing it is how righteousness is received.
No. Les Feldick teaches that God imputes His righteousness to believers by faith in the gospel. None of our own righteousness is involved; our righteousness is as filthy rags in God's sight.
We must believe the gospel. Les says the Bible teaches that when we believe what God has done through Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, God covers us with His righteousness.
Because Christ paid the full penalty for sin on the cross. Les explains that God is not winking at sin; His justice was satisfied, so He can be just and the justifier of those who believe.