Imperfect but righteous; makes mistakes but is holy

I am not perfect but righteous; I make mistakes but I am holy. This is the awesomeness and reality of the good news of Jesus Christ. I am not perfect and I make mistakes, I am human just like everyone else. It amazes me how so many people expect perfection from everyone, especially those who are Christians. The reason why Christians can make so many mistakes and be imperfect and still be righteous, holy, blessed and prosperous is because of God’s loving grace. It is His righteousness not mine, I am not made right with God because of how “perfect” I am or how many achievements I have accomplished. It is God’s righteousness; He has given me the righteousness of His Son Jesus. In other words, God has made me right with Himself by what Jesus accomplished on the cross. God does not look at my mistakes and sin, Jesus took care of these things so I can have a relationship with God the Father. He remembers my sins no more and doesn’t count them against me.

I am now in good standing with God, as His son and a citizen of heaven. I can now approach God with confidence and excitement because I know I am loved and accepted. I don’t have to earn God’s favor or blessings or love or acceptance. I already have all of God’s favor, blessings, love and acceptance. Again this is all possible because of what Jesus did. I get all of what Jesus earned for me. I am in Him and He is in me.  

Yes we as Christians have a standard of living that we are trying to live by, but it is because we see the benefits of living the way God wants us to; we are compelled by our love for God. We don’t do things because we have to, but because we want to. Our hearts are flooded with God’s love and we can’t help but respond to God’s love for us by loving Him with our whole life. So yes the church is filled with imperfect people who are righteous; People who make mistakes but are holy; People who are constantly being transformed and changed by God’s love.