One of the things that sets believers apart from the world is the authority they’ve been given. This ability to get results comes directly from God. If we’ve been wrestling with what righteousness and salvation look like in real life, this is our starting point. We’re not powerless people begging for scraps, but children of God who’ve been brought into union with Jesus.
A Powerful Relationship
In Christ, the power we’ve received changes how we think about being right with God and how we live it out. Salvation goes deeper than just a label; it’s a relationship where we abide in Him and He abides in us. This allows spiritual fruit to show up in our lives. Only in Him can we walk confidently as the righteousness of God in Christ.
During His ministry, Jesus demonstrated to His disciples that salvation ushers us into delegated authority. “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease… And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:1, 7, 8). These instructions also apply to us; they flow from our covenant standing, not our performance. We don’t plead from a distance, but act as sons and daughters who’ve been set right with the Father and equipped to serve.
One With Jesus Christ
Righteousness means we’re aligned with God’s heart and in right-standing with Him; salvation means we’ve been joined to His life. When we abide in Jesus—the vine—fruit is natural, not forced. “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:4, 5). We can now stop trying to perform our way into acceptance and start practicing His presence. This intimacy fuels obedience and releases authority without fear.
Authority isn’t optional equipment, but part of our salvation package. Jesus, Himself, affirmed this. “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19). This isn’t just religious rhetoric, but covenant talk backed by the one who never breaks His Word. Our right-standing fuels bold action against spiritual darkness.
Confidence and Power
On a practical level, righteousness changes prayer from fearful begging to confident consent for heaven to get involved. We can speak to mountains, not just about them, because faith and power ride on our words. “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:22-24). When we believe, we speak, and when we speak, power goes forth even before our senses catch up. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” (Proverbs 18:21).
We also accept accountability that comes with grace. We’re to resist the devil, which involves actively fighting against him until he flees. We don’t ask God to do what He told us to do; we stand in our righteous identity and push back. Salvation makes us victors, not victims.
Boldly Standing on God’s Promises
Our confidence grows when we remember God’s promise never to leave or forsake us. “…For He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]” (Hebrews 13:5, AMPC). This assurance anchors our hearts when storms hit and reminds us that we’re never on our own. Righteousness is relational security that fuels fearless obedience.
The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us who believe. We’re not trying to earn it; as authorized sons and daughters, we’re learning to use what we’ve already been given. We have a blood-bought right to expect exploits, not excuses.
The Authority of Christ
Our words have the potential to cause miracles to happen. When Peter met the lame man at the gate called Beautiful, he didn’t offer sympathy but used what he had. “…In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God” (Acts 3:6-8). Righteousness expressed comes from confidence in Jesus that produces real change. We carry the same name and the same assignment and can act boldly because we know it’s His power working through us.
Putting our authority into practice requires that we believe, speak, and stand firm when trouble shows up. We refuse to outsource the responsibility God entrusted to us. We praise Him for the finished works of healing, deliverance, and victory provided at the cross, and we align our mouths with what He has already done. Because of the finished works of Jesus, we’ve already won in life—regardless of what happens.
