C.H. Spurgeon: Righteousness in Christ

Righteousness in Christ by Charles Spurgeon Girded with Truth

Righteousness in Christ

The moment the man believes in Jesus Christ he is in the righteousness of Christ — perfectly righteous; he has put upon him the Saviour’s garments. You heard Mr. Weaver say on this platform — I thought it was a good illustration — that one day he met with a very poor man who was in rags. This man being a Christian, he wished to befriend him; he told him if he would go home with him, he would give him a suit of clothes. “So,” said Richard, “I went upstairs and took off my second best, and put on my Sunday best, for I did not want to give him my best. I sent the man upstairs, and told him he would find a suit which he could put on; it was my second best. So after he had put on the clothes, and left his rags behind, he came down and said, ‘Well, Mr. Weaver, what do you think of me?’ ‘Well,’ I said, ‘I think you look very respectable.’ ‘Oh, yes, but, Mr. Weaver, it is not me; I am not respectable, it is your clothes that are respectable.’ And so,” added Mr. Weaver, “so is it with the Lord Jesus Christ; He meets us covered with the rags and filth of sin, and He tells us to go and put on not His second best, but the best robe of His perfect righteousness; and when we come down with that on, we say, ‘Lord, what dost Thou think of me?’ and He says, ‘Why, thou art all fair, My love; there is no spot in thee.’ We answer, ‘No, it is not me, it is Thy righteousness; I am comely because Thou art comely; I am beautiful because Thou art beautiful.'”

“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Romans 3:22-23 (KJV)

Righteousness in Christ by C.H. Spurgeon