"None righteous." (Rom. 3 :10.)

To be righteous among men is to possess such a blameless character as gives a place of honor and acceptance among them. To be righteous before God is to possess such a character as would make us suitable for acceptance with God. God, who knows every secret thing in man, says "there is none righteous; no, not one." Who then can be accepted of God ? for none but righteous people can come into God's presence. But as human righteousness gives us a standing among men, so only divine righteousness can give us a standing before God.

"Christ Jesus. . . made unto us . . . righteousness." (1 Cor. 1:30.)

Some people say that our sins Christ Jesus were imputed to Christ (which is true), and Christ's righteousness was imputed to us (which is not true). Christ Himself is by declaration of God made unto us righteousness, as our text says. To become our righteousness He had to suffer the righteous judgment of God against all our sins, and our sinful condition. Having suffered God's wrath and judgment for our sins, and our sinful Adamic condition being ended, in God's sight, by His death, God has raised Him from the dead and set Him at His right hand in His throne, displaying thus in Him His righteous character in dealing, and having dealt, with sin. Thus is He God's righteousness, which God, in infinite grace, makes over to all that believe on Jesus. It is not, therefore, in Christ's righteousness that we are accepted, but in Christ Himself, through faith. This is a righteousness that can never be marred nor spotted.

"That we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5:21.)

In such a righteous and divinely perfect manner has the question of all our sins and our nature of sin been brought to an end before God through our Lord Jesus Christ; and so satisfied is every claim of the holiness and glory of God, that in us who believe, the righteous character of God is displayed and exalted in accepting us in His Son Jesus Christ. We thus are "become the righteousness of God in Him." What an unshakable foundation for our eternal security, and our present assurance and happiness!

"Who hold the truth in unrighteousness." (Rom. 1:18.)

This is professing one thing, and doing another. To the Gentiles, under natural conscience, it is expressed thus:"Who, knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them " (Rom. i:32).

To the Jew, under law, thus :"Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law, dis-honorest thou God ? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you ?" (Rom.
3:23, 24). To the Christian, under grace and the full revelation of heavenly things, thus :" Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them that walk so as ye have us for an ensample. For many (professing Christians, of course) walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things " (Philip. 3 :17-19). Paul held the truth in righteousness, while these held it in unrighteousness.

Nothing inflicts greater injury upon the truth itself than holding it in unrighteousness, in whatever measure it may be done.