The Spirit of Judgment by Watchman Nee

Author:Watchman Nee
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Christian Fellowship
Published: 1984-07-14T22:00:00+00:00

P A R T T H R E E

THE FULLNESS OF GOD’S SALVATION

1

1 The Righteousness of God

At the outset, let me ask two questions: (1) Are we,

as children of God, saved by the righteousness of the

Lord Jesus? And (2) How many times is the

righteousness of Jesus mentioned in the New

Testament? To answer the second question first, we

shall find that in the entire New Testament the righteousness of Jesus is only mentioned once—in 2 Peter 1.1: “Simon Peter, bondman and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have received like precious faith with us through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus

Christ” (Darby).

In answer to the first question, therefore, it is not accurate to say that we are justified by the righteousness of the Lord Jesus. For His own righteousness only gives Him a position before God as that of His being worthy to be our Saviour. If the righteousness of Jesus were able to save us, then the cross would not be indispensable. His righteousness is the righteousness He had while He was living on earth before His crucifixion. We are not saved by His personal

righteousness, but by the righteousness which He accomplished

before God on the cross for us.

To put it more clearly, we are saved through His death. Otherwise, His living would condemn us rather than justify us. For He is the beloved Son of God and He is without blemish. But we are sinners destined to be cursed. His righteousness would expose us before God as our being even more worthy to be condemned.

It is quite amazing to find in the Bible that we are saved by the righteousness of God. This is repeatedly presented in Romans

chapters 1 and 3. Hence let us take note that it is not the righteousness of Jesus, but the righteousness of God, that saves us as Romans 3

makes clear:

86

The Spirit of Judgment

Because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law cometh the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been

manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God ... Christ Jesus: whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done

aforetime, in the forbearance of God; for the showing, I say, of his righteousness at this present season: that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus. (vv. 20-

23,24b-26)

The righteousness of God, to my understanding, must follow the

nature of God. For God to do anything, He must maintain His own

nature in whatever He does. What, then, is the righteousness of God?

What is His nature? Frankly, as sinners we do not care how we are saved so long as we are saved.

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