For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).

In Christianity, we grow spiritually, we grow in faith, and we grow in the knowledge of God’s Word. But we don’t grow in righteousness. Your righteousness doesn’t increase. What if I pray more, study the Word more, and mature in the things of God, won’t I become more righteous? You might ask.

While those things are beautiful and recommended because of their enormous blessings in your life, nothing increases or decreases your righteousness as a child of God. The teaching of the Scriptures is that the moment you were born again, the righteousness of Christ was imparted to your spirit. God didn't begin a process of making you righteous; He made you righteous. He gave you the very righteousness of Christ.

You're as righteous as Jesus is because it's His righteousness that was imparted to your spirit. Your righteousness isn't an inferior righteousness that gradually matures until it resembles His. No. It is God’s righteousness: “...and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 54:17).

Christ's righteousness is perfect, complete, and absolute; it can't be improved upon. Since it is His righteousness that has been imparted to you, you can't be more righteous tomorrow than you are today. You already have the maximum righteousness because you've received the righteousness of Christ.

As already stated, this doesn't mean there is no growth in the Christian life. Certainly, there is. You grow in wisdom and in the expression of the divine life that's in your spirit. But your righteousness is consummated from the moment of the New Birth because it is Christ's righteousness, not yours. Your spiritual growth is the unfolding of the life and nature you've already received, not an improvement of your righteousness.

Never think of yourself as one trying to become righteous. Rather, always be conscious that you're the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. It will give you boldness in God's presence, confidence in your fellowship with Him, and the assurance that your right standing with the Father rests forever on Christ's perfect righteousness imparted to your spirit.