THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
By Minard Wood
"SURELY shall one say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength." Isa. 45 : 24. A worldling glories in the things of the world; but a Christian glories in Christ; yea, he glories more in Christ's cross than the world's crown (Gal. 6:14); Jew and Gentile, publican and Pharisee, outwardly pious and openly profane, are all upon a level in point of justification before God. There is naturally none righteous, no, not one. Rom. 3:10, 23. Who, then, can be saved?—None by his own righteousness; no, not even the most moral man upon earth, if he has nothing better than his morality to recommend him. Rom. 3:20. Surely shall one say, yea, and many more shall learn from the example to say the same, and not only say it, but stick to it. Say what? —Why, "In the Lord have I righteousness;" for what Jesus my Lord is, in his nature, and by his life,—perfectly righteous,—that I am in him. What I have not in myself I have by faith in him who loved me, and gave himself for me. Titus 2:14. The Lord is righteousness in himself, righteous altogether, and can never act contrary to what is righteous. Ps. 116:5. And we have our righteousness in him. Who is "the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jer. 23:6); and if we depend upon Christ for righteousness, we shall be justified by faith in him (Rom. 5:1). Our faith is counted to us for righteousness. Rom. 4:3-8. This righteousness is not according to anything we have done, can, or may do (Titus 3:5), but by grace through faith that we are saved (Eph. 2:8, 9). Do not cast away the little confidence you have in the Lord; but rather hold fast, resist unbelief, and remember your faith is your victory. 1 John 5:4. It is well to feel our own weakness, but better to know that in the Lord we have strength. "Surely shall one say"—and why not you?—"in the Lord have I righteousness." Let this be your triumph against every accusation. And let this be your victory over every enemy, in Jesus, my Lord, I have strength. Phil. 4:13. Complain no longer, but apply to God, through Christ, for all you need; though unholy and weak in yourself, you can do all things through Christ strengthening you.