THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD

"But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets." —Romans 3:21 [KJV]  

"Vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass' colt."—Job 11:12. Proud man would be righteous, though conceived in iniquity, brought forth in sin, and no goodness in him. This pride accompanies him all his days; yea it forsakes not new-born souls. Our natural notions are ever, that doing something will make us righteous. So the judgment of the flesh ever opposeth the truth of the Spirit. Carnal reason ever runs counter to spiritual faith. But it is the glory of believing hearts to take their views of righteousness from revealed truth. This, to the ineffable joy and unspeakable comfort of poor sinners, manifests a righteousness for their garment, which they toiled not for, neither did they spin. And what shall we say of it? Truly, Solomon, in all his glory, yea, angels in all their brightest perfection, are not arrayed like those, who are clothed with the righteousness of the God-man, Christ Jesus. O for stronger faith in this!  

Poor, weak, doubting believer! why takest thou thought for raiment? hath not God clothed you? "O thou of little faith!" thou hopest, thou trustest in Jesus' blood alone for the pardon of thy sins, but art distressed in seeing thyself a poor sinner. Thou knowest thou art not righteous in thyself, and often fearest thou shalt never attain righteousness, and perish at last for want of it. Verily, thy face is turned towards Mount Sinai, instead of Mount Calvary; to Moses, instead of Jesus; to thy life of obedience, instead of His life of righteousness; to the law (which requires all) instead of the gospel, which freely gives all.  

So sure as thou hast the faith of Jesus in thine heart, thou hast the righteousness of Jesus on thy back, let law, men, and Satan say what they will. God finds His children naked, He clothes them. Witnesses are ever at hand. Evidences are never wanting to prove this truth. The Spirit of truth bears infallible testimony, by the law and the prophets, to the glory of this righteousness. Read, be joyful, and give all glory to free grace for its free imputation: "The righteousness of God, which is by faith in Jesus Christ, is unto all, and upon all them that believe, for there is no difference." vs. 22. But who enjoy the comfort of this? Verily no soul, till he is brought to say, with Paul, "I through the law am dead to the law."—Galatians 2:19.  

In vain we ask God's righteous law To justify us now, Since to convince, and to condemn, Is all the law can do.  

Jesus, how glorious is Thy grace! When in Thy name we trust, Our faith receives a righteousness That makes the sinner just. 

-William Mason (1724-1797 A.D.) 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

JESUS - Rock of Ages

Jesus remains the same in all ages. He is the One who is constant when everything and everyone else fails. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever; the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is our R ock [I SAMUEL 2:2 ] . In the Old Testament, in Exodus 33, Jesus is pictured as the Cleft Rock. In that chapter, verse 18 and following, Moses desired to see the glory of the Lord, but was told, "You cannot see My face; for there shall no man see My face and live.” And the Lord said, “There is a place by Me, and you shalt stand upon a rock: and it shall come to pass, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by." Notice that as Moses stood upon the rock, the Lord hid him in the cleft. This wonderfully applies to us today! Believers are both standing on and hidden in Christ [COLOSSIANS 3:3 ] . We are both in and on the Rock. As life with its many bitter events presses upon us, ...
Read more

CHRIST OUR ONLY AND PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS

" The flesh lusteth against the Spirit." —Galatians 5:17 [KJV] Christian experience fully proves this apostolic truth. Hence the children of God cannot do the things that they would: nor have we any authority from God's word to conclude this lusting ever ceased in any of the saints till they got to glory; none are delivered from it while in the flesh. For, as the renewed soul or spirit loves to enjoy spiritual and heavenly objects, so the flesh, or unrenewed part, lusts after those objects it is naturally conversant with, and from which it derives its happiness.  Here is thy conflict, O Christian. Hence the necessity of thy Lord's command, "Watch always." This is the use of the doctrine. What woeful effects have fulfilling the lusts or desires of the flesh produced in eminent saints! Thou standest by faith, be not high-minded, but fear. The conceptions of lust are the productions of sin.— see James 1:15 . The commission of sin contracts fresh s...
Read more

GLORY ALONE IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

" Lest Israel vaunt themselves against Me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me." -Judges 7:2 [KJV] Thus the Lord reasoned with Gideon. He knows what is in man. He sees the pride of the human heart: how prone we all are to boast in an arm of flesh. The Lord is jealous of His own glory. Gideon’s army of two and thirty thousand, is brought down to three hundred. By this handful of men, and no more, did Gideon gain the victory of the Midianites. The Lord’s wisdom in this was, “Lest Israel should vaunt themselves, and say, Mine own hand hath saved me.”   But I have not transcribed the text right. There are two little words of great import, which I have omitted. Mind then, O Christian— against Me. Now remember, whenever thou dost boast of thy power, thy free-will, thy human goodness, thy works, ditties, conditions, and performances in order to be saved, thou art then, as it were, two and thirty thousand strong. Thou vauntest thyself against the Lord . Thou art gloryi...
Read more