LORD Jesus Christ our Righteousness

“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgement and justice in the earth.  

In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." -Jeremiah 23:5-6 [KJV] 


The righteousness of God is the absolute and essential perfection of His nature.  Our Lord Jesus, the God-Man, came into this world to “magnify the law and make it honourable” (Isaiah 42:21) and establish righteousness for His people by suffering the penalty of the Law which was His substitutionary and sacrificial death.  


We know that the thrice holy God can only accept into His presence those who are righteous.   “It must be perfect to be accepted” (Leviticus 22:21).  “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD?  Or, who shall stand in His holy place?  He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully” (Psalm 24:3-4).  


Since righteousness is required (Note, it is the standard of the judgment, see Acts 17:31), the question to be answered is this: Can anyone become righteous by their own works and efforts, or must sinners be justified freely by the righteousness of Christ which is received by the God-given gift of faith?  “By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20).  


Let this be clearly understood: if righteousness comes by legal obedience, as many suppose, then “Christ is dead in vain” (Galatians 2:21).  That is, if by some work, deed or prayer you can merit the grace of God and a right standing with the Lord, then there was no need for the Son of God to come into this world, suffer so horribly on the cross and shed His blood to His death.  


Do you not see that it is impossible for men to justify themselves and therefore it was necessary that Christ die to make satisfaction to offended justice?  It is His obedience, His blood and His labors which God accepts and approves of.  The Lord imputes (-credits, charges) the righteousness of Christ to everyone who believes on Him. 


“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Galatians 2:16).  Sinners are justified by grace on the basis of the righteous obedience of Christ.     

                                                                                      -preacher Jim Byrd of Thirteenth Street Baptist church located in Ashland, Kentucky USA

 

Link to their Sermon Audio page: 

https://www.sermonaudio.com/broadcasters/13thstbaptist/

 

 

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