When you're born again, you become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Sadly, many really don't understand what righteousness is. Righteousness implies conformity with,or to, the will and nature of God. This will and nature of God must be received, learned, or discovered through the revelation of, or from, God. Furthermore, righteousness is the outworking of divine grace, granting acceptance, liberty and rights to the human spirit in the presence of God. Now this is so powerful, because it begins to explain the legality of our righteousness in Christ Jesus! The grace of God has given us this righteousness: "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:21). John 1:17 says, "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." Romans 5:17 says, "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." Your righteousness is a gift of grace delivered to you in Christ Jesus. This gift has already been given, but only those that receive (Greek: "lambano"), that is, take a hold of it, shall reign in life. Thus, it's your responsibility to accept your righteousness in Christ. This righteousness gives you acceptance in the presence of God, such that, you now have the right and ability to stand before Him without guilt, condemnation or inferiority! This is all as a result of what Christ did on your behalf. It really doesn't matter who you are, where you've been, what you've done, or how deep in the dungeon or in the valley you've been: accept His righteousness! This will place you at liberty to express yourself and to be yourself in His presence, and enjoy your rights and privileges in Christ.