The Lord Our Righteousness

“In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this [is] his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Jeremiah 23:6)

Here is a glorious, distinct character by which our all glorious Christ is revealed in the gospel: — “The Lord our Righteousness.” May God the Holy Spirit give us wisdom and grace always to call our most glorious Savior by this name and find constant, unceasing satisfaction in the fact that he, who alone is righteousness, is made of God unto us righteousness. This One, who is “the Lord our Righteousness,” is himself the Lord Jehovah and the Lord our Mediator. Yet, his righteousness could never be ours were he not the infinite God. It is as our God-man Mediator that he is called, “the Lord Our Righteousness.”

            The righteousness we possess in him is called “the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21), because it is a righteousness required by God, wrought by God, accepted by God, given by God, and rewarded by God. Because it is altogether God’s work and God’s gift, it is a righteousness that can never be lost or taken away.

The prophet says, “This is the name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness.” He shall be, and is called, “The Lord our Righteousness”, by every sinner who is made to know by Holy Spirit conviction that he is a sinner without one shred of righteousness of his own, a wretch who is nothing but sin and can do nothing but sin.

We rejoice to call our Lord Jesus Christ “the Lord our Righteousness” when we speak to God. God is holy, righteous, perfect, and pure. It would be impossible for us ever to approach him, except through the infinite merits of Christ’s blood and righteousness. However, as we enter into the holy place, waving this censer, “The Lord our Righteousness,” we “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience” (Hebrews 10:22).

We delight to call the Son of God “the Lord our Righteousness” when we speak to our own hearts. When Satan assails us and harasses us with our many sins, our lack of faith, our lack of love to Christ, and unfaithfulness, we speak peace to our souls with these sweet words, “In the Lord have I righteousness and strength” (Isaiah 45:24). Only a hypocrite finds peace in his own righteousness, for his righteousness is only the imaginary righteousness of a deluded Pharisee. Believers speak peace to their souls by calling Christ “The Lord our Righteousness.”

Saved sinners love to call the Son of God by this name when they speak to one another as well. In baptism, we confess him to be “The Lord our Righteousness.” At the Lord’s Table, we remember him as “The Lord our Righteousness.” In all our songs of praise, in all our public prayers, in all our preaching, all who truly know and worship God call his Son, “The Lord our Righteousness.” We call our blessed Savior by this name with confidence, because God the Father calls his Son “The Lord our Righteousness” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Is the Lord Jesus Christ the Lord your Righteousness? May God enable you now to call him such from a heart of true repentance and faith.

Don Fortner

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