Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 71:16b, where we read these words (of David):
" . . . I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only."This little phrase (above) is a good reminder that the *only* Human Being who has any *inherent* righteousness is Jesus Christ alone. All of *our* righ-teousness is derived from Christ, via imputation. (We have no righteousness of our own—ever since Adam's fall.) When it comes to the greatest form of righteousness (i.e. justification before God), this is Christ’s righteousness giv-en over to our account. When it comes to any form of "civil" righteousness (which cannot and does not save), any person may possess it, but it is given as a token of God's "common" grace.
Let us who have received the gift of regeneration in Christ bless God that we possess *His* (Jesus') Own righteousness. This is the great advantage of the true church; and it is cause for extreme rejoicing.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The truth is, we should listen as much to the voice of God in the ministry of His Word as if the Lord should speak out of the clouds to us.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Worship"]
