This blessedness arises not from his own duties, or his well-meant endeavors to keep the Law; but from the pardoning love of God, the purifying blood of Jesus, and the sanctifying operations of the Holy Spirit. His blessedness consists in being cleansed from his loathsome defilement, the non-imputation of his enormous debt, the removal of his intolerable burden, and the renewal of a right spirit within him. The last of which particulars is not the cause or condition of the former, but an evidence of their being enjoyed. The observation that Paul makes on this evangelical and comfortable text is directly to our purpose. He informs us that the design of David in these words is to describe the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works (Rom 4:6-8). Righteousness imputed, “righteousness without works”— an odd kind of language in the account of many, uncouth and mysterious to all who are alive to the Law and seeking justification by it. But it is quite intelligible and highly comforting to such as are dead to the Law; to those who believe in Jesus as the justifier of “the ungodly”; and who venerate His charming name, “The Lord our righteousness” (Jer 33:16). To such persons, the phrases are full of marrow and fatness.
Such divine declarations feast their souls, for they are the words of grace and the language of love. By them, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, their anxious inquiries about acceptance with the eternal Sovereign are satisfied. Being conscious that they have no righteousness of their own, and equally certain that without obedience to the divine Law they cannot be justified, they must have sunk in despair if such a provision had not been made by sovereign grace—if such a righteousness had not been performed by their wonderful Substitute. They need a righteousness without works, one that has no dependence upon, and is entirely detached from, their own duties of every kind; one that is complete in itself and intended for their use. They need an imputed righteousness, being performed for them by Jesus as their representative, and placed to their account by a gracious God. This brings it near to their souls, makes it warrantable for them to call it their own and to glory in it... An excerpt from The Death Of Legal Hope by Abraham Booth (1734-1806)
Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
3:29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Christ Alone... Saves His Own!... Comments?... Brother Glen
Such divine declarations feast their souls, for they are the words of grace and the language of love. By them, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, their anxious inquiries about acceptance with the eternal Sovereign are satisfied. Being conscious that they have no righteousness of their own, and equally certain that without obedience to the divine Law they cannot be justified, they must have sunk in despair if such a provision had not been made by sovereign grace—if such a righteousness had not been performed by their wonderful Substitute. They need a righteousness without works, one that has no dependence upon, and is entirely detached from, their own duties of every kind; one that is complete in itself and intended for their use. They need an imputed righteousness, being performed for them by Jesus as their representative, and placed to their account by a gracious God. This brings it near to their souls, makes it warrantable for them to call it their own and to glory in it... An excerpt from The Death Of Legal Hope by Abraham Booth (1734-1806)
Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
3:29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Christ Alone... Saves His Own!... Comments?... Brother Glen