Daily Bread – April 16, 2026 (The Fifth Day – Genesis 1:20-23)
2 Corinthians 5:21 – For He Who knew no sin was made the sin offering for us so that we may be the righteousness of God in Him.
When Paul uses the phrase “made righteous”, he is describing the state of our lives that has been created by God (Romans 5:19; 2 Corinthians 5:21). In Greek, the verse, “For He Who knew no sin was made the sin offering for us so that we may be the righteousness of God in Him” is written “ἵνα ἡμεῖς γενώμεθα δικαιοσύνη θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ”. The Greek word ‘ginomai’ (γινομαι) used in this verse means “to come into being through process of birth or natural production, be born, be produced” (BDAG). It is used as the Greek translation for the Hebrew word “to be” in Genesis 1 describing the things God spoke into existence.
When we were born again, we were made a new creation – we were made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (John 1:12-13, 3:3-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17,21). It is wrong to imply this refers to something imputed to us. Being born again is not imputed. The life of God dwelling within us is not imputed. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is not imputed. The power of God within us is not imputed. And being a new creation is not imputed – it is a living reality! We are now called to live in Christ Jesus just as a branch dwells in a vine (John 15:1-7). Christ Jesus is our life (Colossians 3:4; 1 John 5:12)! In fact, the entirety of the message of imputed righteousness is build around Abraham’s faith that has now extended to the Gentiles, and is in no way meant to suggest that salvation is not an actual living reality in our lives.
While Christ Jesus’ righteousness and holiness have been accounted unto us, we have also been made righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:24). The glorious description of 1 Corinthians 1:30 is clearly revealed to be a present and living reality in us by 1 Corinthians 6:11, “And some of you were these things – but you were washed, but you were made holy, but you were made righteous by the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” The Holy Spirit brings forth all these things pertaining to the divine nature in our lives today (Ephesians 5:9; Romans 14:17; 2 Peter 1:3-4).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
