He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
Perhaps before we write anything about the above verse we should read a similar thought written by Paul to the church in Corinth:
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
God has declared us righteous! He did so, not because of our worth or our merit. He did so because of Christ’s righteousness. He (Christ) bore our sins on the cross that we might “live” to righteousness. That is the ultimate reason or Christ’s incarnation, His life, His death, His resurrection. God’s sole purpose is to provide for us and to us His divine righteousness. This is why the entire plan of God culminates in us living with Him in a place where righteousness dwells:
2 Peter 3:13 (ESV)
But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Earlier in this first letter Peter wrote:
1 Peter 1:14-16 (ESV)
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
God’s entire plan of redemption is to make us holy vessels and children for Him. We are to allow the Spirit of God, through faith in Christ, to create in us the righteousness He began on the day of our salvation through our day of final glorification in a new heaven and a new earth, one degree at a time:
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
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