“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹² Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³ Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to Him as an instrument of righteousness. ¹⁴ For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” - Romans 6:11-14

Sin has been defeated in our lives, so we are now free to do good works for God.  When we were sinners,

“We are all infected and impure with sin.  When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags.” - Isaiah 64:6

And not only has sin been defeated in our lives, we have been given Christ’s righteousness.  Our sins are not merely forgotten or erased; the glorious deeds of Jesus have taken their place.  

“For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.  And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him.  And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself.  And having given them right standing, He gave them His glory.” - Romans 8:29-30

THAT IS INSANE. Guys, this is huge.  Not only are we forgiven for sin (every single stupid, disrespectful, evil thing we’ve ever done), we are credited His righteousness. A righteousness we did nothing to earn, but that was given out of love by Jesus Christ.  We are CREDITED His righteousness, we don’t earn it.  We stand righteous before God because we stand in the same righteousness that allows Jesus to stand blameless before God.

PRAISE BE TO GOD.  That He who lived a perfect life would bear the wrath of God, as the only one who could do so without being completely destroyed, and clothe us with His righteousness so that we can stand blameless before God, credited a perfect sinless life.