We know that sin brings death, therefore if we truly believe that God will save us from it, we must believe that He will count us as if we are righteous, although we are not. Christ was perfect; by being truly in Christ, God can count us as if we are perfect, although personally we are not. God made Christ "to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Cor. 5:21), i.e. being in Christ through baptism and a Christ-like life. Thus for those "in Christ Jesus", he is "made unto us...righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Cor. 1:30,31); the following verse therefore encourages us to praise Christ for the great things he has achieved: "In the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith" (Rom. 1:17, N.I.V.). Understanding these things is therefore a necessary part of knowing the true Gospel. All this was made possible through Christ's resurrection.
Tunajua ya kwamba dhambi huleta mauti, kwa hiyo kama kweli tunaamini ya kwamba Mungu atatuokoa nayo, yatupasa tuamini ya kwamba atatuhesabu kana kwamba sisi ni wenye haki, ingawa sivyo. Kristo alikuwa mkamilifu; kwa tendo kweli la kuwa ndani ya Kristo, Mungu anaweza kutuhesabu kana kwamba sisi tuwakamilifu, ingawa sisi wenyewe hatupo hivyo. Mungu alimfanya Kristo "kuwa dhambi kwa ajili yetu, yeye asiyejua dhambi; ili tuweze kufanywa wenye haki na Mungu kwa yeye (Yesu)" (2Kor. 5:21) yaani, kwa tendo la kuwa ndani ya Kristo kwa njia ya kubatizwa na kuishi kama Kristo. Hivyo kwa wale walio "katika Kristo",….. alifanywa kwetu… haki, na utukufu na ukombozi" (1Kor. 1:30,31); aya zifuatazo basi zinatutia moyo kumtukuza Kristo kwa mambo makuu aliyotenda; "Kwa maana Habari Njema inaonyesha wazi jinsi Mungu anavyowakubali watu kuwa waadilifu, jambo hili hufanyika kwa imani"(Rom 1:17 B.H.N). Basi kuelewa mambo haya ni sehemu muhimu ya kujua Injili ya kweli