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A Prayer for Resting in the Gift of Christ’s Righeousness

     But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Rom. 3:21-24 (NIV)

     Dear heavenly Father, what wondrous love is this, indeed! Out of the measureless supply of your sovereign grace, you have generously met our greatest need. You have freely and fully given us the righteousness of Christ. Your law condemned us; but your gospel has redeemed us. We fell short of your glory; but you went long with your mercy. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

While we were still sinners and rebels, idolaters and fools, you gave Jesus for us. He lived a life of perfect obedience for us—fulfilling all the righteous demands of the law; and died a death of utter humility—exhausting all judgment against our sins. We now trust in Jesus’ substitution, not in our transformation—in the merit of Christ, not in the measure of our change.

The only work left for us to do is to believe in the one you have sent—even Jesus (John 6:29). And the faith required, to do so, you have also freely given us. Arise, my soul, arise; shake off your guilty fears and shame-fueled tears. Jesus is your righteousness; Jesus is your perfect, once-and-for-all, God-pleasing, law-fulfilling, judgment-exhausting righteousness. No fear in death, no guilt in life. No separation from the love of God, or vacillation of the delight of God. God loves you as much as he loves Jesus, and there’s nothing you can do about it, but believe it and rest in it.

Father, for so great, perfect, and complete a salvation we worship and adore you. May your steady, full-bore, unremitting love for us in Jesus, compel us to live for your glory. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ matchless and merciful name.

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