Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Old Testament Lesson just read, from Jeremiah 33. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- We see in our text the wonders of God’s love for us in Christ Jesus. It comes in the form of a “declaration” from God. If we understand the basic distinction between “law” and “gospel,” we will clearly see the blessedness of God.
- To review: law tells us what are to do and not to do; it warns against sin and threatens judgment; and it condemns all people as sinners. So law, although it is good, is always “bad news” for us fallen sinful human beings.
- On the other hand: gospel is always good news: gospel means “good news,” and it tells us what God has done for us and for our salvation in Christ Jesus, what He is still doing for us and our salvation, and promises what He is going to do for us in death and on the Last Day. It proclaims the gracious love of God, His mercy and forgiveness; and so it assures us that we are forgiven children of God.
- Now there is but one religion of Gospel – that of Holy Scripture, the Bible, Christianity. And our text makes this clear – it is a message of good news, good news of God’s love, His gracious mercy, and His free gift of salvation to all people in Christ Jesus. And if we will hear this Word of God and keep it by faith, then all blessedness is bestowed upon us!
- So the very theme of this text is critical: “THE LORD IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” And this means that:
I. Reality And Christian Faith Is Different From What All Other Religions Or “Churches” Teach
A. Our Text Assures Us That Blessedness Comes From God’s Proclamation, His Promises
Text: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.”
B. Our Text Assures Us That Blessedness Comes From His Execution Of His Promises
Text: “In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and He shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.”
1. The Righteous Branch is Jesus, the eternal Son of David, and He has executed justice – not the justice of the law, but the justice of grace
John 1:29 “Behold, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.”
Eph. 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
2. The Righteous Branch Jesus has executed righteousness – as our substitute, providing a declaration that we are now righteous in God’s sight by faith
2 Cor. 5:21 “For our sake God made Him to be sin Who knew no sin [Jesus], so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Phil. 3:8,9 “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.”
Statement: So you see that our text is “gospel” – good news about what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. He promises it in our text – declares it to all people, what He is going to do. The “justice” that we need is not that of the law – this justice condemns us to death and eternal hell! Rather, a new justice is executed – whereby Christ takes our sin and guilt, suffers and dies for it under the infinite wrath of God, and provides us with the “justice” of God’s gracious forgiveness and mercy. He becomes “righteousness” for us – His perfect life of love and perfect obedience is now “accounted” to us, to those of us who believe in Jesus and will have Him as their Savior and Lord.
Application: This is completely revolutionary and utterly contrary to the tenets and principles of every other religion in the world – including some which call themselves “Christian” but instead of teaching the “gospel” of Jesus Christ, revert back to law. The attempt is to “help” people execute and establish a righteousness of their own, “that comes from the law” – but this is impossible, for the law always condemns us for our sin. The message of our text, and of all of Scripture, is that we must forsake this impossible and delusional effort – and to simply receive what God promises and what He executes for us, and for our salvation, in Christ Jesus! He is our righteousness, “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” And we thank God for that every day – and for all of eternity!
Transition: This is the blessedness of God bestowed upon us – and it is sure and certain because it is His Word, His declaration. So we know and understand that:
II. This Gift Of Salvation Is For All People And Is Received By Faith
A. So God’s People Are Saved
Text: “In those Judah will be saved.”
B. So God’s People Dwell Securely
Text: “In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell securely.”
C. And Those Who Are God’s Children By Faith And Joy In His Gracious Gift Of Salvation Receive A New Name
Text: “And this is the Name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’”
Statement: Note that our new name – as believers in Christ – is not “they will execute their own righteousness,” or “He will teach them to live righteously,” or “they will try harder to be righteous.” No, wipe all of that away. The Name is simple but profound: “The Lord is our righteousness.” God Himself is our righteousness, the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ! This is the righteousness promised, that brings salvation and eternal life to all who believe! This is the righteousness that Paul gave up everything to have – counting everything else to be “loss and rubbish.”
Application: This is also the “righteousness” that God has supplied to you, by which you are saved eternally through faith in Jesus Christ. It is sure and certain – salvation and security – for it has been promised and executed by God Himself in Christ Jesus!
Conclusion: This is your name – “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” It is the name of every Christian. It is not the name of unbelievers and adherents of other religions, which are all religions of law. They seek to execute and establish their own righteousness under law. Therefore they warp and disfigure the law of God and reject its condemnation, and they also reject God’s salvation, what He has promised and executed in Christ Jesus. And so the law continues to condemn them, including the Word of Jesus: “He that believes the Son has everlasting life, but he that does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” [John 3:36] This is the Word – as Jesus affirms – that will judge the both the believing and the unbelieving on the Last Day.
So let us heed these Words from God, the message which He Himself declares, and the message He has fulfilled. Let us rejoice in His gracious mercy and forgiveness, and let us marvel at the Name He has bestowed upon us.
Obviously this is not a Name that provokes us to pride and arrogance! It is rather a Name that instills within us the deepest gratitude and thanksgiving to God – and an eager desire to love Him just as He has loved us. And as we learn, and grow in faith, it is a Name that compels us to love one another just as God has loved us.
As we contemplate the coming of Jesus in this next month, let us keep in mind His purpose in coming, and what He accomplished. As we look forward to the celebration of Lent and Easter, we also remember what He has executed for us! And let us rejoice forever – with the saints in heaven – that “Salvation belongs to our God Who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” All of this because of the Name given to us: “THE LORD IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Thanks and praise be to Him forever, Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.