Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. It is sad to see brethren
strive about words to no profit in order to gain a following
or to cause division among the saints to try to increase their
own standing in the eyes of others. We should be watchful to flee
from such strivings, but be nonetheless vigilant for the cause of truth,
defending the faith once delivered to the saints when it is necessary.
So all contending for the faith is not born out of a desire for
personal gain, but is sometimes needed in order to ensure that
the truth is not perverted and the hearer is not led astray.
May the Lord give us all grace to know the difference. Most
all of those who claim to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ have
some idea of the fact that there is a righteousness which is brought
to the saints. But there is much confusion among some as to the
nature of that righteousness and wherein the true righteousness
of the sons of God is found. We firmly believe that Scripture
teaches that any and all of the righteousness of the saints of
God, which is recognized by their Heavenly Father, is that which
is imputed to their account solely on the basis of what Jesus Christ
has done in their behalf. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus,
who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification,
and redemption. This is called imputation, which
is an accounting term meaning that something is applied to
one's account, just like money is deposited in a bank account,
and when the transaction is recorded, the work of imputation has been
accomplished. There are some who believe that
Christ has imparted righteousness to each one of the sons of God
whenever they are converted. This error usually takes form
in the teaching that there is created in each believer a new
nature or creature which is incapable of sin. There is a verse in 1
John which is often quoted by those who hold on to this idea.
Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin, for his seed
remaineth in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God.
One has to take this verse totally out of its contextual meaning
in order to make the proposal that there is inside of each
one of the saints a part of them that does not sin. John says,
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law, for sin is the
transgression of the law. This passage is defining sin
as a total disregard of the law or to be in opposition to it
in the mind and heart. So the man who is born from above
by the Spirit of God is not partially possessed by some other personality
which is formed in the sons of God, making them into a spiritual
schizophrenic wherein one man is a sinner while the other is
a saint. Then there are some who teach that Christ has infused
His righteousness into the saints at conversion, and that they
actually become righteous in their person and their righteous
deeds are taken into account by the Father, in order that
varying degrees of reward may be meted out in the day of judgment.
This teaching tells men that their prayers are more apt to
be heard based on their faithfulness and that it is in their power
to influence God in a myriad of ways. They say the amount
of your blessing is dependent on your faithfulness or righteousness
before God. The blessings of God, however,
cannot be purchased by money or good deeds. Any righteousness
which we could ever hope to have before the throne of God is that
which is the perfect righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. There
is no part of a man standing before a holy God which is dependent
upon any work which is performed in these earthly bodies. But
the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord. He is their strength
in the time of trouble. The correct doctrine of imputation
has two parts. The elect would not enter into
eternal glory without them both. He has imputed the sin of his
elect to himself, for he hath made him to be sin for us who
knew no sin. Christ was under no obligation
to redeem his elect, except for that timeless love which he has
held them in before the foundation of the world. Because he loved
them, he was willing to redeem them from the sin and shame which
they had gladly embraced. In order to bear the curse of
the law in their behalf, he placed the guilt of their sin upon himself.
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made
a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth
on a tree. He has imputed his righteousness to his elect, that
we might be made the righteousness of God in him. All of that which
he has performed in the work of redemption has been laid to
the account of those whom he has loved with an everlasting
love. He would be both just and the justifier of them, not because
he was bound by anything but his own purpose. Even as he said
to John the baptizer, suffer it to be so now, for thus it
becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. What shall we say to these things?
If God be for us, who can be against us? Do you stand in the
imputed righteousness of Christ? If not, you shall surely perish
in your own. For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.