一月三十一日
耶和华我们的义。（耶23:6）
基督徒每逢想到基督的义时，就得到极大的安静、镇定、坦然和平安。神的圣徒有多少时候常是灰心丧胆，愁眉不展！我想他们不应当这样。我也想若他们常看他们在基督里的完全，也就不至于如此了。有人常说到自己的腐败、心里的败坏和生命中本性的邪恶。这是十分对的，但为什么不再进前一步，想到我们“在基督里完完全全”呢？所以不怪那些常想到自己败坏的人总是戴着一副尴尬的愁容，但我们要想到基督已成为我们的义，我们就可放心了。虽然灾害折磨我，虽然撒旦苦害我，虽然在我上天堂之前还要经历很多试验，那些在神恩约中所为我定的；但在我主都一无所缺，基督都已成就了。他在十字架上说：“成了！”若是成了，那末我在他里面就得以完全了，并有说不出的快乐和丰盛的荣耀，“不是有自己因律法而得的义，乃是有信基督的义，就是因信神而来的义。”我们在这世上找不到一个比较可以称为义的人，他的义无论怎样也不能超过那些在心中接受基督之义的人。当信徒说：“我只靠基督而活，我只有靠他才得救恩，虽然我不配，但我信我在耶稣里面仍能得救。”于是便起了一种感激的思想——“我不当为基督而活吗？”我既看到我因他所成就的得救，那末我不当爱他并服侍他吗？“基督的爱激励我们”，“叫那些活着的人不再为自己活，乃为替他们死而复活的主活”。我们因基督的义归于我们而得救，那末我们就当看重我们所得的义。
January
31
“The
Lord our Righteousness.” –Jeremiah 23:6
It will always give a Christian the greatest calm, quiet, ease, and
peace, to think of the perfect righteousness of Christ. How often are the
saints of God downcast and sad! I do not think they ought to be. I do not think
they would if they could always see their perfection in Christ. There are some
who are always talking about corruption, and the depravity of the heart, and
the innate evil of the soul. This is quite true, but why not go a little
further, and remember that we are “perfect in Christ Jesus.” It is no
wonder that those who are dwelling upon their own corruption should wear such
downcast looks; but surely if we call to mind that “Christ is made unto us
righteousness,” we shall be of good cheer. What though distresses afflict
me, though Satan assault me, though there may be many things to be experienced
before I get to heaven, those are done for me in the covenant of divine grace;
there is nothing wanting in my Lord, Christ hath done it all. On the cross He
said, “It is finished!” and if it be finished, then am I complete in
Him, and can rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, “Not having
mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the
faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” You will not
find on this side heaven a holier people than those who receive into their
hearts the doctrine of Christ’s righteousness. When the believer says, “I
live on Christ alone; I rest on Him solely for salvation; and I believe that,
however unworthy, I am still saved in Jesus;” then there rises up as a
motive of gratitude this thought– “Shall I not live to Christ? Shall I
not love Him and serve Him, seeing that I am saved by His merits?”
“The love of Christ constraineth us,” “that they which live should
not henceforth live unto themselves but unto Him which died for them.” If
saved by imputed righteousness, we shall greatly value imparted righteousness.
