the Fourth Week after Easter
Click here to join the effort!
Daily Devotionals
Golden Treasury
In the Lord have I righteousness and strength Isaiah 45:24.; 2 Corinthians 2:14. ; 2 Corinthians 5:9.
Justification, through faith in Christ, at first is a very dark doctrine, hard to be understood; but afterwards we find, by experience, that it would be impossible to be saved in another way, and that nothing can be surer than this, though all mankind should turn away from it. It will soon plainly appear, that all things, even our best performances, are unclean in the sight of God, and could not be agreeable to him in the least, without the covering of Christ’s righteousness. Thus we are brought to submit entirely to Christ, and at last to look upon ourselves wholly justified through him, which alone produces rest, strength, and a gentle spirit, the true image of Christ.
In vain do we expect to effect this, by the persuasions of our natural reason, or the strong resolutions of a generous mind. It is only to keep us off from earnestly wrestling in prayer, if by our own strength sometimes we are able to master our affections. But this only a building of our own. The form of godliness we have, without its power; we deceive our own souls. Nothing can be pleasing in the sight of God, and profit us at the last day, but what he works himself. Away, therefore, with all these doings of our own. Let us acknowledge the weakness and nothingness of our strength, and apply, in our poor, blind, naked, lost, and miserable condition, to the righteousness of Christ’s blood: then we shall also find power and dominion over sin. Isaiah 33:24.
Sinners shall hear the sound,
Their thankful tongues shall own.
Our righteousness and strength is found
In thee, the Lord alone.
