Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. How can the saints of God be
called righteous when we can clearly see that they are sinners
just like the rest of mankind? First, we can say that they are
righteous by the eternal decree of the sovereign of the universe
who does all things well and according to his immutable purpose.
To be righteous is to be perfectly acceptable unto him as a holy
God. He approved his people well because
he chose them in Christ. Their union to Christ is from
the beginning and not a condition which they have acquired by human
endeavor. Thus they are accepted in the beloved and are the righteous
which Christ came into the world to redeem, insofar as they are
seen in him. Secondly, we can say that they
are righteous in the sight of the law, according to the justice
of God. This is the point that Paul clearly
makes when he says, to declare, I say at this time, his righteousness,
that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth
in Jesus. He is careful to set this matter
in the context of his righteousness in order to show that the saints
were made righteous in the sight of the very law which he ordained
under condemnation. He did not sidestep the law,
though he most certainly could have if it had pleased him, but
rather sent his only begotten son into the world to satisfy
every jot and tittle of the law, and to pay every penalty which
the law of sin and death demanded from his children. He subjected
them unto vanity according to His purpose, and He would demonstrate
both His mercy and His justice in rescuing them from that same
curse. By Christ's obedience in death,
He has forever set them free from any and all claims which
the holy law could mandate, since He has imputed their sin unto
Himself and His righteousness to them. Thus as they stand before
the judgment bar of God, where only the claims of the law shall
be heard, they are adjudicated as a righteous people, just and
holy, without sin of any kind. He is their mediator and advocate. Thirdly, they are considered
as righteous because they are given faith to believe the promises
of God, which are made manifest in Jesus Christ. But without
faith it is impossible to please Him. For he that cometh to God
must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them
that diligently seek him. The righteous shall indeed believe,
because they are ordained unto eternal life, even as Luke records
in the book of Acts. And when the Gentiles heard this,
they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord. And as
many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Is this not what
Paul said to the Romans? Even the righteousness of God,
which is by faith of Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all them that
believe, for there is no difference. He is the author and finisher
of our faith. For this Paul was willing to
cast off all else 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. Last, and
certainly not least, the saints are made righteous as he applies
the certainty of the finished work of Christ to the conscience
of those who believe. The sacrifices demanded by the
law could never satisfy the conscience of those who were exercised by
the law, because these continual sacrifices only serve to remind
them of their ongoing sin. The purpose of the preaching
of the gospel is to bring glad tidings to those who are mourning
in Zion that Christ has completed their salvation. 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 voice of him that crieth
in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make straight
in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low. And the crooked
shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. And the glory
of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Therefore the redeemed
of the Lord shall return and come with singing and design,
and everlasting joy shall be upon their head. They shall obtain
gladness and joy, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
He is indeed the salvation of the righteous, who are so because
of him. He has brought life and immortality
to light through the gospel. This is a great source of blessing
and comfort to the sons of God, who were made to see and feel
their own unrighteousness, which is in them by nature. But of
him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom
and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, that according
as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. Is
Christ your righteousness? For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.