The standing of the believer is that position of privilege which God gives him in Christ and for Christ's sake. Let us examine what it is. Every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is a justified person, 'justified by faith' (Rom. v. 1). That is, he is reckoned by God as righteous before Him, in virtue of what Christ has done. He has a righteousness imputed to him which is called 'the righteousness of God' (Rom. iii. 21). This righteousness is not in himself in any sense. It is his because he is 'in Christ.' Indeed, the believer is said to be actually 'made the righteousness of God' in Christ (2 Cor. v. 21). This is something very real. It is God's reckoning about all who believe in Jesus. It brings the believer into very blessed relationship with God.

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