"The Lord our Righteousness."
- Jeremiah 23:6
It will always give a Christian the greatest calm, quiet, ease,
and peace, to think of the perfect righteousness of Christ. How
often are the saints of God downcast and sad! I do not think they
ought to be. I do not think they would if they could always see
their perfection in Christ.
There are some who are always talking about corruption, and the
depravity of the heart, and the innate evil of the soul. This is
quite true, but why not go a little further, and remember that we
are "perfect in Christ Jesus." It is no wonder that those who are
dwelling upon their own corruption should wear such downcast
looks; but surely if we call to mind that "Christ is made unto us
righteousness," we shall be of good cheer.
What though distresses afflict me, though Satan assault me,
though there may be many things to be experienced before I get to
heaven, those are done for me in the covenant of divine grace;
there is nothing wanting in my Lord, Christ hath done it all. On
the cross he said, "It is finished!" and if it be finished, then
am I complete in him, and can rejoice with joy unspeakable and
full of glory, "Not having mine own righteousness, which is of
the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the
righteousness which is of God by faith." You will not find on
this side heaven a holier people than those who receive into
their hearts the doctrine of Christ's righteousness.
When the believer says, "I live on Christ alone; I rest on him
solely for salvation; and I believe that, however unworthy, I am
still saved in Jesus;" then there rises up as a motive of
gratitude this thought-"Shall I not live to Christ? Shall I not
love him and serve him, seeing that I am saved by his merits?"
"The love of Christ constraineth us," "that they which live
should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which
died for them. " If saved by imputed righteousness, we shall
greatly value imparted righteousness.
- Jeremiah 23:6
It will always give a Christian the greatest calm, quiet, ease,
and peace, to think of the perfect righteousness of Christ. How
often are the saints of God downcast and sad! I do not think they
ought to be. I do not think they would if they could always see
their perfection in Christ.
There are some who are always talking about corruption, and the
depravity of the heart, and the innate evil of the soul. This is
quite true, but why not go a little further, and remember that we
are "perfect in Christ Jesus." It is no wonder that those who are
dwelling upon their own corruption should wear such downcast
looks; but surely if we call to mind that "Christ is made unto us
righteousness," we shall be of good cheer.
What though distresses afflict me, though Satan assault me,
though there may be many things to be experienced before I get to
heaven, those are done for me in the covenant of divine grace;
there is nothing wanting in my Lord, Christ hath done it all. On
the cross he said, "It is finished!" and if it be finished, then
am I complete in him, and can rejoice with joy unspeakable and
full of glory, "Not having mine own righteousness, which is of
the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the
righteousness which is of God by faith." You will not find on
this side heaven a holier people than those who receive into
their hearts the doctrine of Christ's righteousness.
When the believer says, "I live on Christ alone; I rest on him
solely for salvation; and I believe that, however unworthy, I am
still saved in Jesus;" then there rises up as a motive of
gratitude this thought-"Shall I not live to Christ? Shall I not
love him and serve him, seeing that I am saved by his merits?"
"The love of Christ constraineth us," "that they which live
should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which
died for them. " If saved by imputed righteousness, we shall
greatly value imparted righteousness.
