Divine Righteousness.

NOTHING short of Divine righteousness will clothe the sinner suitably for the presence of God. Human righteousness is but “filthy rags” in God’s sight. Divine righteousness is not Christ’s life of obedience down here imputed to us. “If righteousness came by the law” (either by our keeping it or Christ keeping it for us), “then has Christ died in vain” (δωρεαν gratuitously) (Gal. 2:2121I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2:21)).
Christ’s perfect obedience and holy walk, as a man under the law, was necessary to constitute Him a suitable victim (a “lamb without blemish and without spot”) to bear the penalty due to us; but Scripture nowhere states IT is imputed or reckoned to us. Had He sinned, He must have died for Himself; but being entitled by virtue of His perfect obedience to go straight to glory, He was free to lay down His life for others. Accordingly, and in obedience to His Father’s will, He went to the Cross. ‘Twas there “Jehovah laid upon Him the iniquity of us all,” and thus established a righteous ground upon which He could meet the sinner in grace, without compromising holiness and justice. It is Christ Himself, in resurrection, who is “made unto us righteousness” (1 Cor. 1:3030But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)); and we become “the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:2121For 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)). What strength and security this gives the soul!