Can a Christian defile their righteousness ?

Much has been said and preached about us being the righteousness of God in Christ. And yes this is  true,  Romans 3:22, Romans 4;5, Romans 5: 17  etc.

 However we must bear in mind that we must live unto righteousness. 
 
Romans 6; 13, 16 -  18
 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of  unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive
from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto  God.
 
 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield  yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin  unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered
you.

 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

 We must live unto righteousness. This is why we  cannot afford to play around with sin. All unrighteousness is sin (1 John  5:17).

 Lets look at these scriptures:

 Revelation 3: 4
 Thou  hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

 Revelation 16: 5
  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that  watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his
shame.

 Revelation 19; 7-  8
 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him:  for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself
ready.

 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints
 
Revelation 16: 5 makes it clear that we must keep our garments. Revelation 3: 4 also talks about a few names in Sardis whish have not defiled their garments. A  garment represents a form of clothing. I think it is safe to say that one definition of our garments would be our righteousness. This can be seen in Revelation 19;8.

 Brethren, l don't claim to have all the answers,  but one thing is certain, we cannot afford to play around with sin. We cannot  afford to keep saying that we are the righteousness of God and live any how. One reason Jesus came was to carry our sins. That in itself should keep us far away from it.

 Thank  God we have the a remedy: Grace is available to us to serve God  acceptably (Hebrews 12: 28). We also have the provision to confess our sins. When we do so, not only is the Lord faithful and just to forgive but He also cleanses us from all unrighteousness 
 
1 John 1: 9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all  unrighteousness.. 

Lets live a godly and righteous life. Lets yield our member unto righteousness. We are called to live a godly life and to be followers of God. Let us maintain our godly standards. We have what it takes to live a godly life.

 2 Peter 1:  3
  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that  pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:


Bisi  Oladipupo