hrist has already set forth earlier the righteousness that was needed – He said that this is why He came – not to destroy the law but fulfill it, 5:17, and that we needed a righteousness we can’t produce.  And he proceeded to show the folly of imagining you could produce any righteousness and summarized by telling us that it would require no less than the perfection that He Himself came to render in obedience to the law of God, even unto His death, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, (the best of the best put together) ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 5:20.

It is in this context that our Lord says that our prayers should be focused on the establishment of this kingdom, “Thy kingdom come.”  I recognize that many believe that this speaks to the kingdom coming into the minds and consciences of sinners when God the Holy Spirit gives them life.  Certainly that takes place, but I think here He is continuing to point to the work that He came to complete.  The literal Greek reading of that is “Let thy kingdom come.”  Christ is telling this multitude that they are to be looking to Him and to that which he came to accomplish on the cross – in essence saying “let it happen – I desire the certain success of the Savior because that’s what I need – that’s where my hope is.”                                                                                                                                                                                                             RANDY WAGES, Albany, GA 

HOW CAN IT BE?

“…but how should man be just with God?”  Job 9:2

nder the effectual work of the Spirit of God on the heart, an awakened sinner ponders, ‘What about my sins?  Are they just passed over?  Does God just look the other way?  Is there no such thing as Divine Justice, which demands absolute satisfaction?’  Not only for our own consciences’ sake, but also for the glory of God, it is necessary that God not just pass by sins, but justly put them away, that He might be a JUST God and SAVIOR!  The sin question must be settled!  The law demands that our sins be punished, either in us, or by a Substitute.  Here, dear friend is the glorious message of the Gospel of God’s redeeming, justifying grace in Christ.

            Redemption means, ‘a buying back.’  The sentimental preaching of our day that has a god overlooking sin, and accepting something of the sinner, whether his faith, decision, or sincerity, as the basis of forgiveness, is totally foreign to the Scriptures, the character of God, and to the honor and glory of Christ.  Redemption means deliverance through a ransom, and therefore we read in Romans 3:24- ‘Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.’  We are not justified when we believe any more than we were elected or redeemed when we believed.  Justification is a Divine act of acquittal.  It is the legal discharge of sin to Christ, and His righteous obedience to the sinner.  It is ‘through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus’ and therefore is its immediate result.  Justification and redemption (the ransom paid) go hand in hand.  “For by one offering He hath PERFECTED forever them that are [have been and continue to be] sanctified,” Hebrews 10:14.

            The Gospel declared aright tells repentant sinners that God has already been reconciled to them through the death of His Son- Romans 5:10.  The command to repent is not in order for God to be reconciled, but rather because of a full, free reconciliation already accomplished by the blood of Christ.  The sinner must be brought to be reconciled in his own mind and heart to that reconciliation worked out already by the Lord Jesus, otherwise, none can claim to be reconciled.  It is the work of the Spirit to reveal to those sinners for whom Christ died the glorious, finished work of the Savior on their behalf, and in that they do rejoice! 

            When taught of the Spirit of God, redeemed, justified, reconciled sinners will never cease to wonder, ‘Why me?’  How can it be? Only by the blood and righteousness of Christ fully accomplished at Calvary and completely accepted by the Father there for them.                                                          KEN WIMER

THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

en please themselves with a conceit that they do not dishonor Jesus Christ in ascribing their justification to faith, because faith is a grace of Christ, and so from Christ. But, by the same reason, we may ascribe our justification to love, patience, temperance, goodness, etc., because they are from Christ and fruits of the same spirit faith is, Gal. 5:22. And may we not also by the same reason ascribe our justification to all our spiritual performances such as prayers, tears, and all our good works, because the power by which we do these is from Christ: "For without me," Christ says, "ye can do nothing," John 15:5.

O all ye sons and daughters of the most High, lift up your voice, and cry, “No inherent holiness to justification,” as well as “no works of the Law;” for whatsoever is in us, and acted by us, and passes through us, is defiled by us, "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags,"

·        Isaiah 64:6. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us," etc.,

·        Titus 3:5-9. "But in the Lord have I righteousness,"

·        Isaiah 45:24, 25. "He is our righteousness,"

·        Jeremiah 23:6. "I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of Thine only,"

·        Psalm 71:16. "My tongue shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long:" verse 24.

For no other righteousness can be compared to this. As it is acted by us, it is not worth the talking about.  Our justification is not by our faith because nothing we do is perfect.   

                                                                                                                                                                                                        SAMUEL RICHARDSON, 1647

BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT MERCIES!

“But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy:  and in thy fear will I worship toward Thy holy temple,” Psalm 5:7