The Lord Our Righteousness

      The Bible says concerning the righteous, "For thou, Lord wilt bless the righteous with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield", Ps. 5:12.  "I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread".  "The Lord upholdeth the righteous" Ps 37:21, 25.  "The salvation of the righteous is of the Lord:  He is their strength in the time of trouble."  Ps 37:39  "Verily there is a reward for the righteous", Ps57:11.  "The righteousness shall be glad in the Lord."  Ps 64:10  "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree", (Ps 92:12) because, "Light is sown for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart"  Ps. 97:11.  "Surely he shall not be moved forever the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance."  Ps 112:6  The holy scriptures records many glorious promises to the righteous.  We also know from the scriptures that none but the righteous shall see God in peace.  Yet we find another astonishing reality recorded in the holy scriptures, in Ps 14:2, 3 we read,  "the Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God.  They are all gone aside; they are all  together become filthy:  there is none that doeth good, no, not one".  And again in Isa. 53:6 we read,  "All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way".  And then in Rom 3:10-12 we read, "It is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.  There is none that understandeth there is none that seeketh after God.  They are all gone out of the way they are together become unprofitable, there is none that doeth good, no, not one".

      On one hand we understand that none but the righteous enjoy God's approval and thus will be saved.  And on the other hand we see that the Bible unequivocally declares that there is none righteous, no not one.  How then are the unrighteous to be counted righteous and thus be justly saved?  Infinite foresight and wisdom had in place from times eternal a plan to eclipse this problem if and when it should arise.  Nothing has or nothing ever will take God by surprise.  The plan to recreate the unrighteous hidden in the mind and counsels of God was revealed in due season at the appropriate and appointed time.  Jer 23:6 calls it "The Lord our righteousness", a plan whereby God can justly save His lost rebels and still maintain strict justice and righteousness.  If God is changeless, and His justice certain, then because the wages of sin is death, the sinner must die.  But the infinite wisdom and creative power in God's righteousness or right doing enable the Creator to be just and the Justifier.  In Isa. Chapter 53 we get a glimpse of the mystery hid from eternity in God.  God is here speaking of Himself.  It is recorded "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities.  All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all".  One member of the Godhead, laid on the 2^nd member of the Godhead the sin and punishment of their creation.  Thus God could be just and the justifier.  By the ability that resided in God alone, God through infinite foreknowledge created in one being the total sum of all that humanity was and will ever be, and put it all together in one body, and then dressed divinity with all humanity.  Thus, some being dead and others still unborn, were created in Christ Jesus.  When He was born and lived and died and was resurrected we (all humanity) were born and lived and died, and was resurrected in Him.  The Lord was not just a man, the Lord was all humanity.  We were created literally in Him.  Thus when he lived, because we by the creative power of God lived in him, we can justly be counted by God to be righteous in Jesus.  The righteous life that merits us being counted as righteous by God is the righteous life or Righteousness of Jesus.  That is why the Bible says "the Lord our Righteousness".  In Rom. 5:10 the written word declares this gospel truth and living reality in these words, "we were reconciled by the death of his Son, much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life".  The death of Christ paid the price for our rebellion, but the life of Christ earned for us the right to eternity.  The life of Christ is our righteousness.  When He lived we lived in him.  That is why the two words "In Christ" when understood have such great depth of meaning.  We see this term often in the New Testament, and now in the light of truth let them take on new dimensions of meaning.  1 Cor 1:30 reveals that God has made Christ's Righteousness for those who are in Christ.   Remember beloved, we do not have in ourselves any saving righteousness, nor can we do anything that will merit it.  The Inspired Word declares of the Savior, "and this is His name whereby He shall be called, the Lord our Righteousness" Jer 23:6.  This righteousness is perfect righteousness which means perfect obedience, it is this character righteousness alone that justifies and grants us a title to heaven and eternity.  However, there is but one way to receive this God created garment- by faith as a gift, and that way is in Christ.  To all who receive this gift God says, "Thy people also shall be all righteous, they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified."  Isa 60:21      How shall the unrighteous in the courts of heaven where God is judge be justly declared to be righteous?  The Lord is their righteousness.  Infinite creative power and wisdom combined and brought a clean thing out of an unclean thing.  This plan was perfectly legal, fair, just, merciful and gracious -- it was a plan conceived and born of infinite love.  Humanity needs to understand that what God requires, by this mercy and grace God supplies.  He gives this righteousness to us as a gift to be received by faith.  My good conduct (and Christians do maintain good conduct) can never pay for my sins or merit entrance into God's kingdom.  All that saves fallen man God provides. "The Lord is our Righteousness".  As it was in times past so it is today, as Rom. 10:3 so clearly states it concerning men, "They being ignorant of God's righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God".  What the unrighteous need in order to be righteous, God has provided and gives to us as a gift.  The Lord is our Righteousness.  It is all the Righteousness or right doing of God in Christ for us and in us that saves us.  Ps. 85:6-10 states the whole matter so beautifully "Wilt thou not revive us again; that thy people may rejoice in thee?  Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.  I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for He will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints; but let them not turn again to folly.  Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.  Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other".  The work of God in God produced righteousness for us.  In the God who is love, mercy, grace, justice, and righteousness was revealed to be in perfect working harmony and absolutely balanced with one another.  God can be just and the justifier of all the unrighteous who believe in Him.  Jesus said in Matt 9:13 "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."       We constrain all to repent and receive the gift of "the Lord our righteousness" which will both stand for you in the record books in heaven, and work in you recreating your fallen nature into a righteous character.