When the father fell upon the neck of the repentant prodigal, and imprinted on his cheek the kiss of love, he said to his servants, “Bring out the best robe and clothe him in it” (Lk. 15:22). It was the best robe. There could be nothing superior to it. It was the highest possible character of fitness for the father’s presence. But the illustration fails to convey the full blessedness of the righteousness which every believer now is made in Christ, for he is not only graced for the Father’s presence, but has acceptance in another—the Beloved—so that we have become “God’s righteousness in Him.”

It is due to Christ, in virtue of His God-glorifying work of obedience, that those for whom He suffered should be accounted righteous in Him—“the Lord our righteousness”—according to the eternal purpose. God in His grace has therefore made Him to be unto us “righteousness” (1 Cor. 1:30) and this on the principle of faith (Rom. 1:17). There is no solid peace in souls until they see the righteousness of God in giving remission of sins through His blood, and counting them righteous in Christ. How blessedly the gospel of God reveals the righteousness of God!

How sweet it is to know that Christ is our righteousness, that through matchless grace we have become the righteousness of God in Him. Christ then is our subsisting righteousness in God’s presence, the ever-present witness there, not only that our sins have been righteously atoned for, but that He of God is made unto us righteousness. What rest of heart this gives! What boldness too in the day of judgment, because as He is, so are we in the world (1 Jn. 4:17). How these truths melt our hearts, and draw us out in worship and thanksgiving!