Thurs., 2/25/16 Devotion (Job 25:4)

Today's encouragement comes from Job 25:4, where we read these words:

"How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman?"

Bildad the Shuhite asked this question (above). It is a profound query. The answer is, "No one can be righteous before God on one's own. What is nec-essary is an 'alien' righteousness." This "alien" righteousness is that of Christ, imputed to the sinful soul, by faith in Him [Christ] (alone).

Faith follows regeneration (or the new birth). Regeneration is God's sovereign act of bringing to life a dead and rebellious soul. Faith is the gift of regenera-tion. By faith, the new-born believer continually fetches to his heart the Lord Jesus Christ, who then is that person’s sole righteousness. Therefore, the question, "Can a man be righteous before God?,” is answered, “Yes”—but only as the man (or woman, [boy or girl]) is clothed in Christ's righteousness.

[Puritan quote of the day: "A godly man loves God and therefore delights to be in His presence; he loves God and therefore takes comfort in nothing with-out Him.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Godly Man's Picture"]