Perfectly His Child

Jan 12, 2015 2567

By Desmond Ford

The more I behold Christ’s perfect embodiment of infinite love and truth (as exemplified in his every motive, thought, look, word, and deed), the more my conscience would be vexed did I not also believe that his personal righteousness is imputed every moment to this foolish, erring, weak, stumbling believer (Jn 1:9; 13:10; 17:6).

Similarly, the more I perceive of the depths of the sacred law(which demands of me all that Christ was and did in his humanity), the more I would despair did not Scripture assure me that all who have surrendered their lives to the Saviour are “accepted in the beloved,” “cleanse[d] . . . from all unrighteousness,” and without “condemnation” or separation (Eph 1:6; Col 2:1O; 1 Jn 1:9; Rom 8:1, 33-39).

Despite the fact that we strive to fulfil every known duty, we remain “unprofitable servants,” righteous only by faith in the merits of Christ, for we all make many mistakes and must pray daily “forgive us our debts” (Mt 6:12; Rom 3:20-26; James 3:2). In other words, the good news assures me that if I have given myself to Christ, I am perfectly his child, though not a perfect child (Jn 13:1; Heb 12:5-7).

While I am a sinner in myself all my days, in Christ I have perfect righteousness, for “this man [Jesus] receiveth sinners,” and God is the one who justifies the ungodly who believe (Mt 7:11; Lk 15:2; Rom 4:5).

While at every advance step in my Christian experience my penitence will deepen; and while I will make the apostle’s confession my own, “I know that in me there dwelleth no good thing;” and my prayers will urgently ascend that the Saviour might help the disorders of my sin-sick soul; simultaneously, I will rejoice that Christ is made unto me righteousness, sanctification, wisdom, and redemption, and that I can never be lost while I trust in his merits (Zec 3:1-5; Mt 18:21,22; 1 Cor 1:31; Heb 13:8; Rev 8:1-4).

– Des Ford. Rom 8:27–32 (from “A Meditation Upon the Everlasting Gospel”)

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