The Righteousness of Christ - Ch 1

Phil, that is a great quote, "The obedient death of Christ is the very apex of the righteousness of Christ." (p.23)

When I read the first chapter I had a couple of thoughts. One was on page 20, the authors quote Galatians 3:13, "Christ Redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us". Then he says, "... apart from the saving work of Christ, every one of us still deserves God's curse every day of our lives". (p 20)

Sometimes, when I am hurt, or my children are sick, I think what it would be like if our bodies never healed. What if we just had to live with that affliction for the rest of our lives? That, and so much more, is what we deserve. But it is easy to take for granted the fact that God has made our bodies to heal. Most of us do not have to live with perpetual injury in our bodies. But one definition of a curse is "a call on divine power to send injury upon". If all that separates us from being cursed by God is Jesus, then we are completely dependent on Jesus to make sure that God knows we are off the "Curse List". Thank you Jesus for not being ashamed to acknowledge you know me!

And, this leads to another thought I had. Our righteousness before God is completely dependent on knowing Jesus, and having his righteousness.

"For our sake he make him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2Corinthians 5:21)

We know, because of Gods perfection, that he will not make a mistake and leave us on the "Curse List"; however, should we also be aware of how dependent on Jesus we are to rescue us from Gods just wrath against our sin?

I remember being on a jury and going through the long but interesting process of a trial. On the third day it was time for the jury to decide the guilt or innocence of the defendant. I will call her Jane, although that was not her name. Watching Jane stand before the judge as we entered the courtroom to read the verdict her eyes pleaded for mercy. She knew her fate rested on the next few words that she heard, and the weight of it could be seen in her body and face. One day when we stand before the awesome, penetrating eyes of a perfectly holy, pure, righteous, and completely sovereign Judge how will we respond? How much awe, reverence, and holy fear will we experience because of the finality of this judgement seat, and the weight of this verdict? There was no one to rescue Jane in the courtroom where a guilty verdict was read. She crumbled into the arms of her lawyer who tried to comfort her. If Jesus does not come through for us then we have no hope. If Jesus does not acknowledge to God the judge that he knows us at this moment then who will save us? There is no one. No one can, and would anyone be willing? I do not know the reference, but Jesus said there would those who come to him and say that they have done miracles, cast out demons and prophesied in his name, but he would say, "I never knew you". As a result they would be sent away to a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. If we are not clothed in the righteousness of Christ then we will not be recognized. The authors main point is that, "The righteousness of Christ, which is credited to us, is the first bookend of the Christian life". (p. 26) How sweet is that righteousness!?

This righteousness of Christ saves us from the daily affects of being under a curse, and saves us from the eternal consequences of Gods judgement. I love Jesus!!