Deeper Life #140

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

—Romans 3:24

I WANT THE HOLINESS THAT IS given to me by God through faith. Holiness by faith lays hold of God and accepts from Him His righteousness. Hundreds fail by striving to give up things to God, striving to become holy by their acts and deeds; this is the righteousness of the law, not the righteousness by faith. The crucial thing is not the righteousness of my faith; it is the righteousness received “through faith.” Righteousness is the gift of God to one who knows he is a spiritual pauper.

This is why Jesus Christ would say to someone who came into the presence of the King without a wedding garment, “Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? . . . Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 22:12–13). Such a person may have gone under the name of one of the Lord’s saints, but he is not His handiwork. He is not the handiwork of God Almighty by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Nothing in my hands I bring,

Simply to thy cross I cling.

Prayer Thought: Through faith, O God, I cling to Your Word. Fill me with Your righteousness.

SUGGESTED READING: Matthew 22:1–14