“The Two Aspects of Christ as the Believers’ Righteousness: Objective Righteousness vs. Subjective Righteousness”

 

“The Two Aspects of Christ as the Believers’ Righteousness: Objective Righteousness vs. Subjective Righteousness”

Romans 3:25 Whom God set forth as a propitiation place through faith in His blood…

Romans 3:26 That He might be righteous and the One who justifies him who is of the faith of Jesus.

1 Peter 2:24a Who Himself bore up our sins in His body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. 

Aspect	Objective Righteousness	Subjective Righteousness
Meaning	Christ is the believers’ righteousness so that at repentance and faith in Christ they are justified objectively before God, being accepted by God outwardly.	Christ is the believers’ righteousness lived out from within them, expressing God in their living; this becomes their subjective justification before God.
Reason	Humans cannot meet God’s righteous requirement; God gives Christ as righteousness to cover and justify those who believe.	God desires not only to forgive but to gain a people who express Him through righteous living issuing from the divine life.
Distinction	Outward, objective, once-for-all, positional, judicial, for acceptance before God; like clothing covering the sinner.	Inward, experiential, progressive, lived out daily, organic; like life being supplied and expressed in righteous deeds.
Types  (Typology)	The best robe (Luke 15:22); the queen’s outer garment (Psa. 45:13–14); the wedding garment (Matt. 22:11–12).	The fattened calf (Luke 15:23); the queen’s embroidered inner garment;  the fine linen of Rev. 19:8 (the righteous deeds of the saints).
Illustrations	→ A robe covering the sinner → Immediate acceptance before God → A judicial verdict of “not guilty”	→ Eating the fattened calf → The wedding garment (positional righteousness) → Life supply becoming inward constitution → Righteousness expressed in behavior → Fine linen: the righteousnesses lived out
Mutual Relationship	Objective righteousness is the beginning. Without the covering robe, there is no standing before God.	Subjective righteousness is the issue. The inward life supply produces righteous living as the expression of Christ.
Examples in Scripture	The prodigal son receiving the robe; believers immediately justified at salvation (Acts 13:39; Rom. 3).	Peter living a righteous life after the Lord’s resurrection (1 Pet. 2:24). Believers living honesty, purity, meekness, and holiness.
Application	Stand firmly on Christ as our righteousness. Do not rely on works. Reject self-condemnation; trust His blood and righteousness.	Daily enjoy Christ as life—pray, read, fellowship—so that righteousness is lived out in attitudes, words, and conduct.
Burden	That believers see justification is by faith alone, relying only on Christ, not works or self-effort.	That believers would express Christ as practical righteousness, becoming His testimony on the earth.
Prophesying Guidelines	Declare: — “I am justified in Christ!” — “Christ is my robe of righteousness!”	Declare: — “This righteousness is of God!” — “Christ is my life!” — “I live Christ daily!” — “The righteousness I express is Christ Himself!”
Expanded Scriptures	Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; Acts 13:39 By Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Galatians 3:24 The law has become our child-conductor unto Christ that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.	Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offenses and was raised for our justification. James 2:24 A man is justified by works and not by faith only. Matthew 5:20 Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall by no means enter into the kingdom of the heavens. Revelation 19:8 …the fine linen is the righteousnesses of the saints.

 

Conclusion: 

Objective righteousness gives us standing before God.

Subjective righteousness produces the expression of God in our living.

  

*Please refer to the May 2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training, General Topic: Matthew Chapters 5-7, Week 8: Seeking First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.