For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Volumes might be written, on this most blessed verse of Scripture: and when all the powers of the human mind had been drained, to express everything the imagination could conceive, of blessedness contained in it, numberless things would be left unsaid, and unwritten; so infinitely full are the blissful contents. That Christ, who knew no sin, should be made sin for his people: that he who is holiness itself, and who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity; should be counted unholy, and have all the iniquity of his people laid upon him! yea, he that is One with the Father, over all God blessed forever, should be made a curse for them: what a world of mysteries is contained in this subject? But, Reader! think, and think with holy, rapture, and joy, of the blissful truth connected with it, if Christ who knew no sin, was made sin for them; they also which are his people, and who in themselves are all sin, and know no righteousness, are made the righteousness of God in him? So that they are really, and truly, considered righteous before God in his righteousness, as much as Christ stood forth in God's view the sinner's Surety, and was beheld, and reputed sin for them. And this becomes the sole cause, as was all along intended, of the sinner's justification before God. Not to procure favor to his people, to any of their labored attempts after righteousness; but to be the very righteousness of his people. Christ is himself their righteousness. And they are accepted as righteous in him. Oh! the unspeakable felicity of thus eyeing Christ, and knowing Him, as the Lord our righteousness. Sweetly the Apostle speaks of the Church, made righteous in his righteousness, when he saith; who of God is made unto us, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. And as sweetly the Prophet hath taught the Church, under God the Holy Ghost, to take all the comfort, and confidence, of the divine provision, when putting those words in the mouth of the redeemed: Surely shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength; even to him shall men come, and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory, Isaiah 45:24-25; 1 Corinthians 1:30
REFLECTIONS
Who is blessed in the Lord, that can join the Apostle's confidence, on the same well-grounded assurance in Christ; that when the tabernacle of this earthly house shall fall, the mansion of glory in Jesus, stands open for his sure reception? Oh! the vast, the conceivable difference, which will take place, at the judgment-seat of Christ, between the redeemed of the Lord, and the unregenerate! Who shall form conception, between the shouts of holy joy, and the shrieks of the condemned? Lord Jesus! be thou my portion now; and sure I am, thou wilt be my everlasting confidence then, Lord! give me all the sweet properties of the new creature, and so cause the love of Christ to constrain me, that during the whole time-state of my continuance here below, I may thus judge, and thus act, that if one died for all, then were all dead; and that he died for all, that they who live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him, who died for them, and rose again! Blessed Lord Jesus! I would be wholly thine! And, oh! the rapturous thought! I am made the righteousness of God in thee!