There's More to Celebrate

Article by Michael Goforth II:

Jesus died for our sins, but that's not all. Did you know He did more on our behalf?

The substitutionary death of Jesus Christ is the topic of much discussion and celebration in Christian theology and this is absolutely appropriate. However, one topic that should be celebrated more is the active obedience of Jesus during His life here on earth.

Romans 5:19 is a good summary of this doctrine, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” 
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Adam, the very first man, was the federal head and representative of the human race. When he sinned, all of humanity became cursed with a sin nature. This made man completely unable to fulfill God’s righteous requirements for living.

However, Christ came as a new representative to live the perfect life that no mere man ever could. When a person receives Christ by grace through faith, they are not only forgiven of their sins, they are credited with the perfect righteousness of Christ. (Eph. 2:8-9; 2 Cor. 5:21)

The Apostle Paul put it this way in Philippians 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”

If you have received Christ, you are perfectly righteous before God because of the active obedience of Christ. That is definitely something to celebrate. 

So let's not just thank God for the death of Christ, let's thank Him for the life of Christ as well.