THE SUM AND SUBSTANCE

“I will give thee for a covenant of the people.” —Isaiah 49:8

God demands perfection, nothing less can stand in His perfect presence. That pretty much leaves all of us out because perfection is far from any of our experience. Even the Apostle Paul recognized that perfection was unattainable in human strength. Where does that leave us? Apparently, on the outside trying to look in. Martin Luther battled this dilemma as he struggled to comprehend the righteousness of God. Suddenly, one day, it was as if a light was turned on. It was not my righteousness but the righteousness of God given to us as a gift by faith. This was a game changer for Luther and for all of us who have followed down his path. Here are some thoughts from Spurgeon concerning this gift of righteousness.

“Jesus Christ is Himself the sum and substance of the  covenant, and as one of its gifts. He is the property of every believer. Believer, canst thou estimate what thou hast gotten in Christ? “In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” Consider that word “God” and its infinity, and then meditate upon “perfect man” and all his beauty; for all that Christ, as God and man, ever had, or can have, is thine—out of pure free favour, passed over to thee to be thine entailed property forever. Our blessed Jesus, as God, is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent. Will it not console you to know that all these great and glorious attributes are altogether yours?  Has he power? That power is yours to support and strengthen you, to overcome your enemies, and to preserve you even to the end. Has He love? Well, there is not a drop of love in His heart which is not yours; you may dive into the immense ocean of His love, and you may say of it all, “It is mine.”

So its not a better me the Lord is searching for. It is the righteousness of Christ Himself credited to my account by faith that makes all of the difference. So how do I receive this incredible gift? Just like you receive any gift, you just accept it. You don’t earn it or work for it; it is the great exchange. It is the heart and soul of Christianity. “For in it (the gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”