In another’s righteousness we stand, and by another’s righteousness are we justified. All accusations against us, founded upon our unrighteousness, we answer by pointing to the perfection of the righteousness that covers us from head to foot. Protected by this perfection, we have no fear of wrath, either now or hereafter. It is a buckler to us; and we cry, “Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of Thine anointed” (Psa 84:9), as if to say, “Look not on me, but on my Substitute. Deal not with me for sin, but with my Sin-bearer. Challenge not me for my guilt, but challenge Him; He will answer for me.”
Thus, we are safe beneath the shield of His righteousness. No arrow, either from the enemy or from conscience, can reach us there. Covered by this perfection, we are at peace. The enemy cannot invade us; or if he try to do so, we can triumphantly repel him. It is a refuge from the storm, a covert from the tempest, a river of water in a dry place, the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. The work of righteousness is peace; and in the Lord we have righteousness and strength.
Beautified with this perfection, which is the perfection of God, we find favor in His sight. His eye rests on the comeliness that He has put upon us; and as He did at viewing the first creation, so now, in looking at us as clothed with this divine excellency, He pronounces it “very good.” He sees no iniquity in Jacob and no transgression in Israel (Num 23:21). “The iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found” (Jer 50:20). This righteousness suffices to cover, to comfort, and to beautify. --Horatius Bonar
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The Blood of Christ!
There are a lot of people who talk about salvation by blood, by the blood of Jesus. But they speak as if it were simply available and talk about what it can do – “It CAN wash away your sins.” This is not the Gospel. The Gospel is the good news of what Christ’s shedding of blood has accomplished! It was shed for many for the remission of their sins.
His death put away sin, made an end of sin for someone. Who? His church, His people, His elect. “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). --Pastor Gary Shepard
The ‘good news’ of the Gospel is that there is a Substitute who has stood in the place of every repentant sinner and bore the wrath of God in his place. He did this for all whom the Father had given Him from all eternity. It is for them that He prays in John 17. They are ‘His sheep’, the Father gave them to Him, and He died for them (John 10:15, 29).
Substitution is at the very heart of the Gospel. Christ did not simply give His life to make salvation possible for those who contribute their part to what He has done by repenting and trusting Christ. He it is that gives repentance and faith (2 Timothy 2:25; Ephesians 2:8).
Christ did not say to the religious Jews of His day that they were not of His ‘sheep’ because they did not believe; rather, He says, ‘You do not believe because you are not of My sheep.’ If they had been His sheep they would have believed. The ‘good news’ is that ALL WHOM THE FATHER HAS GIVEN TO THE SON, AND FOR WHOM HE DIED WILL BELIEVE and manifest true repentance and faith. This they will do willingly and with gratitude in their hearts. It is God’s work. He cannot fail. --Pastor Bill Clark
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