Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. Two men went up to the
temple to pray, one being a Pharisee, the other being a publican. The
Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee
that I'm not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers,
or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give
tithes of all that I possess. He reeled off quite an impressive
list of accomplishments, and in his own mind, he considered
himself more righteous than the publican. He was satisfied that
he had done what was required of him. The publican, on the
other hand, could not escape the knowledge that he had fallen
woefully short of all that was required of him, and could find
no place of standing before the Lord. And the publican, standing
afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven,
but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me, a sinner. The Lord said that he was justified,
while the Pharisee was not. Righteousness and morality are
not synonymous. The Lord alone can judge a man
to be righteous. The basis upon which he does
so is by imputing the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ
to those whom he loves. The Lord is faithful to convince
and convict his elect of their sin and shortcomings. They're
resulting sorrow for their transgressions and an acknowledgement of their
unworthiness to stand in his presence as an evidence of this
work. The Lord taught his disciples about the difficulty of those
who are rich in this world's goods, be it gold or morality,
of leaving those things behind to gain the kingdom of God. He
said that with men such things are not possible, but with him
all things are possible. For it is he who bestows righteousness
according to his sovereign purpose. Saul of Tarsus was a man full
of his own righteousness, and in his own mind was zealous in
his service to the Lord. It was only as the Lord stripped
away his self-glorying that he was caused to cry out, Who art
thou, Lord? When the righteousness of Christ
is revealed, those whom the Lord awakens to behold it can make
no claims of their own righteousness, and must, as the publican, cry
out for mercy. Paul looked upon that which he
once rejoiced in, and counted it all as garbage. Circumcised
the eighth day of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin,
and Hebrew of the Hebrews, as touching the law of Pharisee,
concerning zeal, persecuting the church, touching the righteousness
which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gained to
me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I
count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss
of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. Thus we see him expressing the
voice of rejoicing and salvation. It is the same with all of those
whom the Lord is pleased to grant the gift of repentance and faith.
In the days of Nehemiah, the word of God was read to the nation
of Israel, for all the people wept when they heard the words
of the law. This word is sharper than any two-edged sword, and
pierced their very hearts as the Lord wielded it with power.
This weeping is a sign of repentance, which is brought about by godly
sorrow. Yet Nehemiah told them not to weep, but rather to rejoice
in the salvation which God had already wrought for them. Go
your way, eat the fat and drink the sweet, and send portions
unto them for whom nothing is prepared. For this day is holy
unto the Lord. Neither be ye sorry, for the
joy of the Lord is your strength. Paul reminds us of the same when
he says, wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us
unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after
that faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
The work of the law is a necessary one due to the innate sin of
men, but it cannot minister hope or help to the sons of God. The
purpose of the law is in bringing repentance, which is not an end
in itself, but rather has its perfect work in bringing the
sons of God to rejoice in the righteousness of Christ. He is
our salvation. Such rejoicing is meant to occur
in the tabernacles of the righteous, those dwelling places of the
Lord, or indeed temples of joy. Thus Paul exhorted the Thessalonians,
Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. Where else
can the joy of God's people be found but in him, who has brought
life and immortality to light in the gospel? For he saith,
I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have
I succored thee. Behold, now is the accepted time.
Behold, now is the day of salvation. Cannot all the sons of God now
say the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly? Salvation is
of the Lord. We will rejoice and be glad in
it. The Lord, our righteousness. Is Christ your righteousness?
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