We believers, we who have placed our faith in Jesus and his finished work alone for our salvation, are NOT under the law (Romans 6:14). We are under grace. Under grace, we have the forgiveness of ALL our sins, justification, sanctification and righteousness that we could never receive under the law (Galatians 2:21). We are free indeed, just as Jesus promised (John 8:36).

This "perfect law of liberty" (James 1:25) does not mean that we act lawlessly. It doesn't mean that we live a loose lifestyle. Believers aren't in licentiousness. Anyway, why now that we are free of sin and death would we go rolling again back in the muck (Romans 6:1)? Such a notion is preposterous and goes against our new creation and now awakened spirit. We walk in faith, led by the Holy Spirit, and his grace teaches us how to live godly lives in this present age (Titus 2:11-12).

We believers have the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. There can be no better righteousness than that. Our righteousness though is not dependent upon our performance. It is dependent upon the performance of Jesus. When God looks at us to judge us, he doesn't even see us, he sees the sacrifice, and the sacrifice is perfect.