What Would Happen If You Stand Before God? - Free Indeed - Ep. 163

Summary

Barry Bennett teaches that righteousness received through Christ is a foundation for living with confidence, peace, and steadiness during hardship. He contrasts trying to earn acceptance through personal performance with receiving righteousness as God’s gift.

Main Ideas

• A strong spiritual foundation helps people withstand life’s storms. Bennett says hardship does not come from God; God provides his Word, Spirit, and truth to strengthen believers. He connects righteousness with an enduring foundation that cannot be shaken.
• Righteousness is received, not earned. Bennett describes the Old Testament ideal of righteousness as perfect law-keeping, which people could not achieve. Under the New Testament, he says, righteousness comes as a gift through Christ rather than through good works or personal ability.
• The gift transformed Bennett’s sense of identity. He recounts feeling like a failure after an unsuccessful attempt to become a missionary in Mexico and returning to Texas to work as a debt collector. He says a revelation of 2 Corinthians 5:21—that Christ took sin so believers could become God’s righteousness in him—began changing how he saw himself. He describes the change as gradual but life-altering.
• Identity in Christ replaces reliance on personal merit. Bennett argues that basing one’s relationship with God on good deeds, knowledge, personality, or abilities leaves a person insecure. Instead, believers can understand themselves as righteous in Christ because God gave them that status.
• Righteousness is connected with “reigning in life.” Referring to Romans 5:17, Bennett presents righteousness as a gift that enables believers to face circumstances rather than be dominated by them. He says this understanding helped him overcome fear, timidity, and feelings of failure.
• The believer’s new identity includes other gifts. Bennett links being in Christ with being a new creation, being blessed by God, and receiving Christ as wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. He describes sanctification as being set apart for God and redemption as freedom from sin’s power and death.
• Righteousness supports freedom from fear and condemnation. Bennett says that understanding God’s gift allows a person to approach God without guilt or fear, with joy and gratitude. He also says that fear or anxiety can be met without self-condemnation by returning to the truth of one’s identity in Christ.
• Believers can stand against accusations and opposition. He interprets Isaiah 54:14 and 54:17 as promises that those established in righteousness can be far from oppression and need not fear hostile words or weapons. He emphasizes that this righteousness comes from God, not personal achievement.
• Righteousness gives bold access to God. Using Hebrews 4:16, Bennett says believers can approach the throne of grace confidently to receive mercy and help in times of need—not because they are flawless, but because they rely on God’s gift.

Practical Approach

• Reflect on the biblical teaching about righteousness and identity in Christ.
• Let the truth take root over time rather than expecting every change to happen instantly.
• When fear or bad news arises, recall and declare the truth: “I am the righteousness of God in Christ,” and that God has not given a spirit of fear.
• Approach God confidently, seeking grace and help rather than retreating into guilt or condemnation.
• Continue to build on God’s goodness and righteousness so that life’s difficulties do not dislodge the foundation.

Bennett closes with a prayer declaring that believers receive righteousness by grace, are being transformed, and can reign in life through Christ. He also provides information about contacting the ministry, requesting prayer or resources, partnering, and obtaining a booklet.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Speaker: Barry Bennett, host of Free Indeed
• Biblical passages cited: Proverbs 10:25; Proverbs 12:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:17; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:3; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Isaiah 54:14; Isaiah 54:17; Hebrews 4:16
• Other featured speakers: None identified