Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. The kingdom of the Lord Jesus
Christ is one which is established in mercy and wrought in the earth
by the demonstration of his righteousness, being justified freely by his
grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom
God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to
declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are
passed through the forbearance of God, to declare, I say at
this time, his righteousness, that he might be just and the
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. His righteousness is
declared in the earth as He hung on Calvary's cross, pouring out
His life's blood as a substitute and sin offering for those whom
He came into the world to save. For He hath made Him to be sin
for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness
of God in Him. The work of righteousness is
completely performed by this king, who reigns without rival,
having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of
them openly, triumphing over them in it. He has made manifest
that his righteousness alone is that which is acceptable to
the Father. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth,
and the life. No man cometh unto the Father,
but by me. If ye had known me, ye should
have known my Father also. And from henceforth ye know him,
and have seen him. He is the righteousness of His
people, but of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made
unto us wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
Therefore He has made peace in the heavens and the earth by
that which He has performed. For it pleased the Father that
in Him should all fullness dwell, and having made peace through
the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto
Himself. By Him, I say, whether they be
things in earth or things in heaven. Justice is satisfied
and hope is brought to sinners by the unfailing work of him
who trod the winepress of God's wrath alone, in the behalf of
those whom he loved from before the foundation of the world.
Not only has he satisfied justice in their behalf, but he has purchased
gifts for his own and delivered them from the darkness which
had them bound by giving them faith, to see that the kingdom
of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and
joy in the Holy Ghost. He has sent messengers into the
earth with the message of this peace. Comfort ye, comfort ye
my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem,
and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, and that her
iniquity is pardoned. For she hath received of the
Lord's hand double for all her sins. The ascension of Christ
back into the heavens from whence he came declares that he is that
one acceptable substitute and is the exclamation point at the
end of the sentence which he has written with his own blood.
He has indeed made a short work in the earth. Those things which
are yet to unfold in the sight of men are already accomplished
by him whose decree shall not fail and who quickeneth the dead
and calleth those things which be not as though they were. He
has finished the work which He came to do. Even as His work
was done in peace as to its procurement, so the effect of His work is
to produce peace in all of those whom the Lord is pleased to give
faith, to believe His promise, and rejoice in the hope which
is set before them. Which hope we have is an anchor
of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that
within the veil. Whether the forerunner is for us entered,
even Jesus, made an high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Sometimes we hear men describe the work of the Spirit in the
sons of God as being a progressive work. Normally they mean that
the saints are becoming more Christ-like as they traverse
this lowland of sin and sorrow. Yet it seems quite clear from
scriptures that the sanctification of the sons of God is a destination
rather than a journey. This destination is to be found
in Christ, as Paul describes, and be found in Him. not having
mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which
is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of
God, by faith. There are no degrees of being
found there. One is either in Christ or not. Therefore, if
any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed
away. Behold, all things are become
new. Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none
of his. Yet there is indeed a work of
the Spirit that continues in the children of God. Paul describes
it thusly, For it is God which worketh in you both to will and
to do of his good pleasure. It is his good pleasure to give
his children the kingdom, and to this end he ministers peace
and assurance to them in the preaching of the gospel. The
effect of His righteousness is the ministration of assurance
and peace to His children by the gift of His Holy Spirit.
Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you. Not
as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid. Do you desire this peace which
passeth understanding? If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.