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Selected Messages Book 1
Imputed Righteousness
Christ is a risen Saviour; for, though He was dead, He has risen
again, and ever liveth to make intercession for us. We are to believe
with the heart unto righteousness, and with the mouth make confession
unto salvation. Those who are justified by faith will make confession
of Christ. “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent
me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but
is passed from death unto life” (
John 5:24
). The great work that is
wrought for the sinner who is spotted and stained by evil is the work
of justification. By Him who speaketh truth he is declared righteous.
The Lord imputes unto the believer the righteousness of Christ and
pronounces him righteous before the universe. He transfers his sins
to Jesus, the sinner’s representative, substitute, and surety. Upon
Christ He lays the iniquity of every soul that believeth. “He hath made
him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him” (
2 Corinthians 5:21
).
Christ made satisfaction for the guilt of the whole world, and all
who will come to God in faith, will receive the righteousness of Christ,
“who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we,
being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes
[393]
ye were healed” (
1 Peter 2:24
). Our sin has been expiated, put away,
cast into the depths of the sea. Through repentance and faith we are
rid of sin, and look unto the Lord our righteousness. Jesus suffered,
the just for the unjust.
Although as sinners we are under the condemnation of the law,
yet Christ by His obedience rendered to the law, claims for the repen-
tant soul the merit of His own righteousness. In order to obtain the
righteousness of Christ, it is necessary for the sinner to know what
that repentance is which works a radical change of mind and spirit
and action. The work of transformation must begin in the heart, and
manifest its power through every faculty of the being; but man is not
capable of originating such a repentance as this, and can experience it
alone through Christ, who ascended up on high, led captivity captive,
and gave gifts unto men.
Who is desirous of becoming truly repentant? What must he do?—
He must come to Jesus, just as he is, without delay. He must believe
that the word of Christ is true, and, believing the promise, ask, that