Baseball is a good illustration of the Christian life

Image if you were on home plate your whole life. Not striking out, but never getting to first base. The feeling of not getting anywhere. Or in other words, not growing spiritually into the destiny God has already laid out for you. Ephesians 2:10 "to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do"(NIV).

1) Once you receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior you do have His righteousness that does not change. It is a legal position, a judicial Righteousness. It is like standing before a judge and the judge looks at His Son that took your sentence and declares to you " Your innocent."

2) There is a practical righteousness. It is true we sin and ask for forgiveness to keep in relationship with God. 1 John 1.9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness"(NIV). Matthew 3.8 "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance"(NIV). What this verse is saying is that with our commitment to God in living holy lives we are producing more fruit in our live and less sin.