R. A. H., JERSEY. — We are cheered by what you say of blessing received through the pages of The Evangelist. The Lord be praised! To Him be all the glory!
1. With regard to your question on Luke 24:3232And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? (Luke 24:32)— “Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?” We must remember that it was after their eyes were opened, and they knew Him, and He had vanished out of their sight, that the two disciples, going to Emmaus, thus expressed themselves. We must also consider that the Scriptures which our Lord expounded were concerning Himself. How, then, could the burning of heart they spoke of be other than joy and gladness? The word translated “burn” means “kindled with emotion;” and while it is quite true that the Lord did at first reprove them, saying, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe,” yet what could be the effect of that but to attract them to Himself, to prepare them to listen to the sweet Scriptures concerning Himself which He was going to set before them, that they might know Him as risen from the dead, and as still caring for their comfort and blessing?
2. You say, “Was Christ’s righteousness imputed to us who believe, for it is written we are ‘made the righteousness of God in Him’?” Now, where, we ask, in Scripture, do you find the expression, “Christ’s righteousness”? We are told that “the righteousness of God, by faith of Jesus Christ, is unto all and upon all them that believe.” (Romans 3:2222Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:22).) But, observe, this is the righteousness of God. We know also that “God made Him (Christ) sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 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).) But here again observe it is the righteousness of God, and that it is ours, not through Christ’s law-fulfilling, but as a result of His having been made sin for us upon the cross. Hence Paul exclaimed, “That I may be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” (Philippians 3:99And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (Philippians 3:9).) Notice here again that it is the righteousness which is of God. No doubt, as we have seen, it is in Christ that we are made the righteousness of God; and we are further taught that, being in Christ, “God hath made Him to be unto us righteousness.” (1 Corinthians 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).) We have not, therefore, a righteousness apart from Christ Himself. Observe, further, that this righteousness in which we stand now before God is not merely a garment thrown over our old Adam nature which Christ obtained for us by law-fulfilling. Far from it; for the believer is not now seen by God standing in his old Adam nature, but in Christ. “Ye are not in the flesh,” “not under law,” “not of the world,” Scripture tells us, but “in Christ.” Christ having borne our sins on the tree, and suffered for them, and made there sin for us, when “God condemned sin in the flesh,” both our sins and the old nature—the corrupt tree and its fruits—are gone from before God, having been judged in Christ on the cross; so that we have died with Christ, died under the judgment of God out of our old state, and are now alive to God in another Head—in Him who is the other side of death in resurrection and ascension. And it is in Him risen and ascended that we are accepted, blessed, complete, and preserved, and who is our righteousness, for we are made the righteousness of God in Him. The believer, then, is “in Christ,” is “not in the flesh,” has no standing, or life, or righteousness, apart from Christ Himself. This is entirely God’s work, suitable to God, according to the nature of God, and for the everlasting praise and glory of God. We are made, then, the righteousness of God in Christ, not by law-keeping, but by His having been made sin for us, and, as our Substitute and Sin-bearer, suffering all the righteous vengeance of God due to us, and glorifying God in it all. No wonder, then, we are told, that “if righteousness come by the law, then Christ has died in vain.” (Galatians 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)).
T. H., PLYMOUTH. — Thanks for your kind letter. We question the suitability of the lines enclosed for this magazine. We would gladly send the copies you desire if they were at hand. May the Lord greatly bless your soul!