condemned.
unrighteous man, if man presents himself in his own true character as a
sinner, and does not mock God by pretending to be something less or better
than this.
For then the divinely provided righteousness comes in to cover the
unrighteous, and to enable God to receive him in love, and justify him
before earth and heaven.
In all this we find such things as the following; each of them bringing out
a separate aspect of the answer to the great question, "How can man be just
with God?"
1. The Justifier;--"It is God that justifieth." The sentence of acquittal
must come from His lips, and be registered in His books.
2. The justified;--Man, the sinner, under wrath, the ungodly, the
condemned.
3. The justifying fact;--The death of Him whose name is Jehovah our
righteousness.
4. The justifying instrument;--Faith. Not strong faith, or great faith, or
perfect faith, but simply faith, or believing. "We are justified by
faith."
5. The justifying medium;--The righteousness of God. This is the "best
robe" which is prepared for the prodigal, by which he is clothed and
beautified, and made fit to enter his Father's house, and sit down at
his Father's table. Christ is Himself our justification. In Him we
"stand." In Him we are "found." Him we "put on," and with Him we
are clothed, by Him we are protected as by a shield, in Him we take
refuge as in a strong tower.