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Faultless in Christ’s Perfection, February 14
For 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
.
Pardon and justification are one and the same thing. Through faith,
the believer passes from the position of a rebel, a child of sin and Satan, to
the position of a loyal subject of Christ Jesus, not because of an inherent
goodness, but because Christ receives him as His child by adoption. The
sinner receives the forgiveness of his sins, because these sins are borne
by his Substitute and Surety. The Lord speaks to His heavenly Father,
saying: “This is My child, I reprieve him from the condemnation of death,
giving him My life insurance policy—eternal life—because I have taken
his place and have suffered for his sins. He is even My beloved son.”
Thus man, pardoned, and clothed with the beautiful garments of Christ’s
righteousness, stands faultless before God....
It is the Father’s prerogative to forgive our transgressions and sins,
because Christ has taken upon Himself our guilt and reprieved us, imputing
to us His own righteousness. His sacrifice satisfies fully the demands of
justice.
Many feel that their faults of character make it impossible for them to
meet the standard that Christ has erected; but all that such ones have to
do is to humble themselves at every step under the mighty hand of God;
Christ does not estimate the man by the amount of work he does, but by
the spirit in which the work is performed.
When He sees men lifting the burdens, trying to carry them in lowli-
ness of mind, with distrust of self and with reliance upon Him, He adds to
their work His perfection and sufficiency, and it is accepted of the Father.
We are accepted in the beloved. The sinner’s defects are covered by the
perfection and fullness of the Lord our righteousness. Those who with
sincere will, with contrite heart, are putting forth humble efforts to live up
to the requirements of God, are looked upon by the Father with pitying,
tender love; He regards such as obedient children, and the righteousness
of Christ is imputed unto them.
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