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I. The righteousness of the LAW —

1. Consists in works.

2. Is our own.

3. Is defective and useless.

II. The righteousness of FAITH —

1. Is through Christ.

2. Perfect.

3. Acceptable to God.

(J. Lyth, D. D.)

I. WHAT IS MEANT BY CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUSNESS. Righteousness is the result of obedience to the law. Christ fulfilled the law in our room.

1. By His active obedience to its commands. Now the law demands of the sinner were very high.

(1) Spotlessness of nature, for if the fountain be poisoned, how can the streams be wholesome. The Son of God satisfied this demand by taking on Himself a sinless body and soul.

(2) An obedience as broad as the law — "Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things." Christ fulfilled all righteousness and did no sin.

(3) An obedience raised to the highest degree the law requires. It is not enough to be sincere or do one's best. Christ answered this by His perfect love to God and man.

(4) Continuance to the end without the least failure (Galatians 3:10). Christ became obedient unto death.

2. By his passive obedience. Failing in active righteousness the law takes hold of the sinner and says, "Pay what thou owest."(1) The law required life as the penalty of transgression — "In the day that thou eatest," etc. Christ satisfied this demand by dying "the just for the unjust."(2) The sufferings must be voluntary, for God hates robbery for burnt offering. Christ for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross.

II. THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RECEIVED BY FAITH. It is received and becomes ours by faith, as faith unites us to Christ. Upon this union follows a communion with Christ in His righteousness. The soul by faith marries with Christ and the righteousness is its dowry. The soul flies to Christ for refuge, and that righteousness is its cover.

III. CONFIRM THE DOCTRINE.

1. That only can shelter us from the wrath of God which satisfies His law, and this righteousness alone satisfies His law.

2. It is the righteousness of God, so called because —

(1)  It is of Him who is God (Jeremiah 23:6).

(2)  Accepted of God.

3. It is the righteousness of the only wise God to save sinners, when nothing else could do it (Psalm 40:6-7).Conclusion.

1. Never entertain low thoughts of sin. It is the worst of evils, which could not be remedied but by the sufferings of Christ.

2. Never entertain low thoughts of forgiveness. Every pardon is the price of blood more precious than a thousand worlds.

(T. Boston, D. D.)

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KJV: And be found in him, 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:

WEB: and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;