"Salvation is of the LORD." -Jonah 2:9

“ There is not a just man upon the earth, that doeth good and sinneth not .” -E CCLESIASTES 7:20 [KJV] The word “just” means righteous. We know that the Lord’s people are righteous in Christ, and yet, the inspired writer says that not even a justified person “doeth good and sinneth not.” Every believer is aware of our sinfulness; we know that “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” [ISAIAH 64:6 ] , therefore we petition the Lord for fresh supplies of pardoning grace [I JOHN 1:9 ] . While the reality of our wretchedness is ever before us, let us rejoice in the deliverance from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and ultimately the very presence of sin by the sacrificial obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ which is the sole basis upon which God remains just and justifies the ungodly. It is true that, “in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing” [ROMANS 7:18 ] , consequently nothing good can come forth from me. However, it is also true that I am acce...

"And be not conformed to this world." - ROMANS 12:2 [KJV] In proportion as we are conformed to the spirit of this world our understanding becomes dull in the things of God, our affections cold and torpid, and our consciences less tender and sensitive. There is an eternal opposition between God and the world lying in wickedness. In order, then, that our spiritual experience of the truth of God should maintain its ground, it must not be dulled and deadened by conformity to the world. It is like the sabre that the soldier carries into battle; it must not trail unsheathed upon the ground lest point and edge be dulled; both must be kept keen and sharp, that execution may be done upon the foe. So it is with our enlightened understanding, with our tender conscience, and our heavenly affections. If we let them fall upon the world, it is like a soldier trailing his sabre upon the pavement; every step he takes dulls both edge and point. If we are conformed to thi...

It makes the wounded spirit whole, And calms the troubled breast; 'Tis manna to the hungry soul, And to the weary rest. Dear Name! the Rock on which I build My Shield and Hiding-place; My never-failing Treasury fill'd With boundless stores of grace. By Thee my prayers acceptance gain, Although with sin defiled; Satan accuses me in vain, And I am own'd a child. Jesus! my Shepherd, Husband, Friend, My Prophet, Priest, and King; My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, Accept the praise I bring. Weak is the effort of my heart, And cold my warmest thought; But when I see Thee as Thou art, I'll praise Thee as I ought. Till then I would Thy love proclaim With every fleeting breath; And may the music of Thy Name Refresh my soul in death! - words by John Newton

A robe or garment is often used in Scripture to portray righteousness. "He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness" [ISAIAH 61:10 ] . "And to her (the church) was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: the fine linen is the righteousness of saints" [REVELATION 19:8 ] . When Adam and Eve sinned and "knew they were naked" [GENESIS 3:7 ] , they tried to cover their shame by making fig-leaf aprons. Their actions pictured man’s vain attempts to establish a righteousness for himself, but righteousness can only be established by the Lord, otherwise the sinner will remain "naked." Nakedness sets forth man’s unrighteousness and his exposure to wrath. The Laodiceans were "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked," and were told they needed "white raiment, that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear" [REVELATION 3:17-18 ] . Thankfully, the Lord came to the rescue of our fallen p...