What a mystery of mercy is this! We have no righteousness of our own. Our best is but as filthy rags. God requires a righteousness, and one that will meet all the demands of His law, and satisfy His impartial justice, in order to our justification. Jesus, therefore, came to do, and to suffer, all that was necessary to make us righteous, divinely righteous. The righteousness of God, or as righteous as He is righteous. The righteous of God in Him. We now, therefore become righteous, perfectly righteous, not by obeying the law, but by faith in Christ, union to Christ, and participation with Christ. Faith brings us to Christ, the Holy Spirit unites us to Christ, and then we participate in all Christ has. His life is our righteousness, His death is our atonement, His intercession is our salvation. He took our place that we might take His. He came to toil for us that we may rest with Him. He sorrowed for us that we may rejoice with Him. He died for us that we may live with Him. Blessed Redeemer, how wondrous your love! How perfect your work!
— James Smith (1802–1862), Prediger, Pastor und Andachtsbuchautor
Related Bible passage: 2COR.5.21
Topics: Grace & Redemption, God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit
James Smith
James Smith (1802–1862) war ein englischer Pastor und Erbauungsautor, der unter anderem in Cheltenham und an der Londoner New Park Street Chapel predigte. Er stand in der calvinistischen Tradition der englischen Baptisten und wurde vor allem durch weit verbreitete Andachtsbücher bekannt, die Gottes Gnade und die Erlösung allein durch Christus betonten. Bibellesern begegnet er heute in kurzen, seelsorgerlichen Tagesbetrachtungen, die theologische Lehre mit praktischem Zuspruch für den Glaubensalltag verbinden.
It wasn't the nails that held Jesus to the cross. It was love.
Max Lucado
Grace, like water, flows to the lowest part.
Philip Yancey
In our own woundedness, we can become sources of life for others.
Henri Nouwen
God does not love us because we are lovable, but because his nature is love.
Oswald Chambers
Oswald Chambers
God counts on your failure far more than you do yourself.
Hans Peter Royer
Ultimately mourning means facing what wounds us in the presence of One who can heal.
Henri Nouwen
The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.
Tim Keller