What is Salvation and Righteousness?
Salvation and Righteousness are two very popular words used in the body of Christ. However, they are sometimes misunderstood as meaning the same thing. While they are closely related, they are not identical.
What is Salvation?
Salvation means to be saved, delivered, or preserved from sin and its consequences.
It is being rescued from sin and eternal death by believing in, accepting, and confessing faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, because of His redemptive death and resurrection on the cross.
The primary work of salvation is deliverance from sin. Its secondary benefits include deliverance from every form of harm. When most people hear the word "salvation", they immediately think only of freedom from sin, yet salvation is much broader. It also encompasses being saved from:
Healing from sickness and diseases (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24)
Deliverance from demonic oppression and afflictions (Luke 4:18)
Protection from accidents and dangers (Psalm 91:10–11
Provision and sustenance (Philippians 4:19)
Peace of mind and emotional wholeness (John 14:27)
Victory over fear and bondage (Romans 8:15)
Preservation of life from destruction (Psalm 121:7–8)
and harm in general.
The Psalmist declares, “He forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases” (Psalm 103:3). Through Christ’s sacrifice, we not only receive forgiveness but also healing and protection, for “by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus Himself affirmed this fullness of salvation when He said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
What is Righteousness?
Righteousness is the state of being considered right or acceptable in God’s sight. It is how God views believers after their salvation in Christ Jesus.
It means obtaining the righteousness of Christ through faith, rather than by our own works.
Both salvation and righteousness are not earned but received as a gift from God. Through the death of Jesus on the cross, the believer’s sins and sinful nature were exchanged for His righteousness, resulting in salvation and a right standing with God.
Imputed Righteousness
At salvation, believers do not become righteous by their own works. Instead, Christ’s perfect righteousness is legally conferred upon them. This is called imputed righteousness.
But why do believers still Sin despite being declared righteous?
This is because the righteousness we receive is a conferred status. The believer must choose daily to uphold it. Here are three illustrations to answer this question.
📌 Illustrations:
1️⃣ Royalty Illustration 👑
When a prince is born into a royal family, he is legally a prince by birth right, not by his actions. However, as he grows, he must learn the discipline, etiquette, and responsibilities of royalty. If he behaves carelessly, he still holds the title, but his actions do not reflect his status.
👉 In the same way, believers are clothed with Christ’s righteousness, but they must grow into that identity and live worthy of it.
2️⃣ Adoption Illustration 👶
When a child is adopted into a family, he instantly becomes a legal son or daughter — his new parents’ name and inheritance are conferred on him immediately. Yet, the child may still carry habits from the old life and environment. Over time, with love and training, the child learns to live in line with the new family identity.
👉 Likewise, at salvation, righteousness is conferred instantly, but the believer still needs to unlearn sinful patterns and live out the new identity in Christ.
3️⃣ White Garment Illustration 👕
Imagine being given a perfectly white garment at an event. The garment belongs to you, and you are honoured with it. But it is your responsibility to keep it clean. If you walk carelessly, dirt may stain it, though the garment is still yours.
👉 In the same way, righteousness is a garment given by Christ. It is ours, but we must choose daily to walk carefully so we do not stain it with sin.
This is why Paul urges us to contend earnestly for our faith until the return of Christ.
Which Should Come First; Salvation Or Righteousness?
No one can be conferred with the righteousness of Christ without first being saved. Salvation must precede righteousness. A man cannot be righteous before being saved.
The Exchange at Salvation
The moment you hear, believe, accept, and confess the Lordship of Jesus Christ, a spiritual exchange takes place:
-
Your sinful garment is stripped away.
-
The righteousness of Christ is placed (conferred) upon you.
This exchange is symbolized in the tearing of the temple curtain at Jesus’ death, signifying that the barrier between a holy God and sinful humanity was removed.
From that moment, you begin to hate sin and desire what pleases God. Though invisible to the natural eye, this exchange makes you acceptable before God.
The Covenant of Salvation and Sin
Salvation is not merely physical — it is a covenant between God and man:
-
God becomes your Lord and Father.
-
You become His child and servant.
By default, every person is born into a covenant with Satan — he is their lord, and they are his slaves. This is why good works alone cannot save anyone from sin.
But the moment you renounce Satan’s lordship and accept Christ’s, the evil covenant is broken, and a new covenant of salvation is established. Your sins are transferred to Christ, who already bore the punishment for them when He died on the Cross of Calvary. This is the foundation upon which God declares a sinner righteous by faith in Christ.
The covenant of salvation in Christ is superior to the covenant of sin in Satan. As Scripture says, “when two powers contend, the lesser must bow to the greater.”
Philippians 2:9–10 – “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”
1 John 4:4 – “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
Colossians 2:15 – “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
The Law of Righteousness and Sin
These covenants produce two laws: the law of sin and the law of righteousness. The law of righteousness is superior because it carries God’s life and power. This is why believers can resist the devil, and he must flee.
-
Living under the law of sin brings defeat and death.
-
Living under the law of righteousness brings victory and life.
Romans 8:1–2 — “There is no condemnation now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit, which brings us life in union with Christ Jesus, has set me free from the law of sin and death.”
God is the originator and custodian of the law of righteousness and life, while Satan is the originator and custodian of the law of sin and death. Lets see proof:
1️⃣God: Originator of the Law of Righteousness and Life
📖 Romans 8:2 — “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
-
Here, Paul calls it the law of the Spirit of life, and this law comes directly from God through Christ Jesus.
-
It is God’s Spirit (the Holy Spirit) that breathes life and righteousness into man.
📖 Romans 10:3–4 — “…they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.”
-
God is the giver and custodian of righteousness, made available through Christ.
📖 Deuteronomy 30:19–20 — “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live…”
-
Life flows from God, and He calls His people to walk in it by obeying His Word.
👉 Conclusion: The law of righteousness and life originates from God because He alone has life in Himself (John 5:26) and gives it to whomever He wills.
2️⃣ Satan: Author of the Law of Sin and Death
📖 Romans 6:23 — “For the wages of sin is death…”
-
Death is the natural product of sin, and sin came into the world through Satan’s deception.
📖 John 8:44 — Jesus said of the devil: “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
-
Satan is the originator of lies and murder (death). His deception of Eve (Genesis 3) introduced sin and death into humanity.
📖 Hebrews 2:14 — “…that through death He (Christ) might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil.”
-
Satan is described as the one who holds the power of death.
📖 1 John 3:8 — “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
-
Sin originates in the devil, and death is its ultimate result.
👉 Conclusion: The devil is the custodian of the law of sin and death, since sin began through his deception and he works constantly to keep people bound in it.
Summary
-
Salvation = deliverance from sin through faith in Christ first, then from all forms of harm.
-
Righteousness = the gift of right standing with God, received after salvation.
-
Both are gifts, not works.
-
Salvation establishes the covenant; righteousness is the conferred status of that covenant.
-
Living under righteousness brings life and victory, while sin leads only to death.
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RefimMedia
Like Our Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/RefimGospelMedia
Support Refim Digital TV and Be Blessed Through More Gospel Content!
0 Comments