There is a massive chasm between the words, “innocent” and “righteous.” We often hear people define the word “justification” as “just as if I’d never sinned.” But it misses the richness of what Jesus has done for us at the Cross.
A child is described as “innocent” when they have no knowledge of right and wrong. Adam and Eve were created “innocent”, not “righteous.” Not one human is “righteous” by nature. It has been gifted to us in salvation, and is defined as: “That Divine nature, which KNOWS right from wrong, has the MORAL EXCELLENCE to hate evil and love good, and possesses the STRENGTH to overcome evil by doing that which is right.”
Adam and Eve, and each one of us, has “fallen” from innocence. We have all believed the lie, at some point in our lives, that God is a killjoy, and sin is way more rewarding and without consequences. We have ignored the warning that “the wages of sin is death.”
Justification is the “legal transaction, because Christ fulfilled our death sentence for us, that not only acquits the sinner of all charges, but IMPUTES to their account, and their heart, the everlasting righteousness of Christ Himself.” Justification is infinitely greater than going backwards to a state of innocence! And it brings infinitely richer and eternal consequences.
And look at the glorious result… “Those who receive the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by Jesus Christ” – (Romans 5:11). This “reign” means we now have the power to “overcome evil with good” … “overcome the world” … and to “overcome the Wicked One.” It’s a righteousness that will grow in us until Christ’s return, a standing in God’s favor we can never lose, and a relationship of love we can never forfeit again.
What unfathomable grace!
AMEN 🙏