self-righteousness is the last idol

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Blueridge Believer

Puritan Board Professor
The Lord Our Righteousness
Jeremiah 23:6 — “The Lord our Righteousness.”
Whoever is acquainted with the nature of mankind in general, or the propensity of his own heart
in particular, must acknowledge, that self- righteousness is the last idol that is rooted out of the
heart: being once born under a covenant of works, it is natural for us all to have recourse to a
covenant of works, for our everlasting salvation. And we have contracted such devilish pride, by
our fall from God, that we would, if not wholly, yet in part at least, glory in being the cause of our
own salvation. We cry out against popery, and that very justly; but we are all Papists, at least, I am
sure, we are all Arminians by nature; and therefore no wonder so many natural men embrace that
scheme. It is true, we disclaim the doctrine of merit, are ashamed directly to say we deserve any
good at the hands of God; therefore, as the Apostle excellently well observes, “we go about,” we
fetch a circuit, “to establish a righteousness of our own, and,” like the Pharisees of old, “will not
wholly submit to that righteousness which is of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
This is the sorest, though, alas! the most common evil that was ever yet seen under the sun. An
evil, that in any age, especially in these dregs of time wherein we live, cannot sufficiently be
inveighed against. For as it is with the people, so it is with the priests; and it is to be feared, even
in those places, where once the truth as it is in Jesus was eminently preached, many ministers are
so sadly degenerated from their pious ancestors, that the doctrines of grace, especially the personal,
All-Sufficient Righteousness of Jesus, is but too seldom, too slightly mentioned. Hence the love of
many waxeth cold; and I have often thought, was it possible, that this single consideration would
be sufficient to raise our venerable forefathers again from their graves; who would thunder in their
ears their fatal error.
The righteousness of Jesus Christ is one of those great mysteries, which the angels desire to
look into, and seems to be one of the first lessons that God taught men after the fall. For, what were
the coats that God made to put on our first parents, but types of the application of the merits of
righteousness of Jesus Christ to believers hearts? We are told, that those coats were made of skins
of beasts; and, as beasts were not then food for men, we may fairly infer, that those beasts were
slain in sacrifice, in commemoration of the great sacrifice, Jesus Christ, thereafter to be offered.
And the skins of the beasts thus slain, being put on Adam and Eve, they were hereby taught how
their nakedness was to be covered with the righteousness of the Lamb of God.
This is it which is meant, when we are told, “Abraham believed on the Lord, and it was accounted
to him for righteousness.” In short, this is it of which both the law and the prophets have spoken,
especially Jeremiah in the words of the text, “The Lord our righteousness.”

GEORGE WHITEFIELD
 
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