Let's just suppose... that you were in debt a billion dollars.

This is probably a debt beyond which you could pay. Right?

Now a multi-billionaire hears about your story, writes a check for a billion dollars, and pays off your debt! That would be great! You'd be out of debt, but, you still wouldn't have anything.

So now he writes another check, for another billion dollars, and credits your account to the positive. Now that would be a transaction!

Now let's make the analogy...

We have a debt called SIN, which is literally beyond our ability to pay.

Even if we could be perfect from today forward, we've already sinned.
This is a debt we cannot pay back.

This is what Christ has to offer. He's willing to pay that sin debt,
and to forgive ALL our sins, past, present, AND future!

Now, here's where God's standard comes into play.
His (Jesus Christ's) righteousness can be CREDITED to your account!

So when God sees you, He sees you in the legal standing of the righteousness, or perfection of Jesus Christ!

Therefore God's standard of perfection HAS BEEN MET IN CHRIST.

It's not JUST that your sins are forgiven.

God's standard of righteousness MUST be met. Again, here's how it's met; the righteousness OF Christ is credited to YOUR account. So now our legal standing before God IS the righteousness of Christ.

Now there is another part to 1st Corinthians 15:4, it says "He arose". Do you believe that?