“…to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.” “But now the righteousness of God – without the law – is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; (22) even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ – unto all and upon all that believe; for there is no difference: (23) for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; (24) being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; (25) whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood…” [2Pe.1:1] [Ro.3:21-25]
The gospel of the glory, only, of the Lord Jesus Christ is clearly set forth from the message of these two passages of scripture. The Word of God tells us that there is one Lord and one faith – and this truth is being here set forth. It is being set forth unto all whom Peter says — that have obtained like precious faith – that is the grace of true saving faith. They have done so through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ! And, by virtue of our receiving that grace – there is given the evidential proof that we have also received the “righteousness of God”. The bestowal by God – through Christ – of this grace – is what makes us to be true believers in the Lord Jesus and His righteousness for our eternal salvation.
The apostle Paul from Romans three delivers to us the substance of this the “everlasting gospel”. He does this when he tells us that – now that the Christ of God – who is our Lord Jesus Christ – has appeared in our history and done what He (and only He) could do. He has brought to light the “righteousness of God without [or, apart from] the law”! Plus, he says, this has been witnessed also in our history – by the law – and all the Godly prophets! Praise and glory only unto our God!
We are no longer flagrant and profane worldly sinners! We are no longer religious false-believing sinners! But, because we believe in, and trust in, this pure gospel truth of God’s great omnipotent grace – we are transformed into becoming true-believing (having obtained like precious faith) – sinners-saved-by-grace! Again, Praise His Name!
All of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God – and, sadly, all of us continue to sin and come short of His glory. However, unto all of us upon whom God has bestowed (by “His great love wherewith He has loved us” Eph.2:4) this eternally saving grace of faith – we have been justified – or, declared righteous – in the eternal Son of God incarnate, even in our Lord Jesus Christ! How does God, indeed, do this for us sinners?
He does this by His grace-of-faith-reckoned-and-imputed unto us> “righteousness of God”. The righteousness of God manifested — completely apart from the law — but found only in — the Lord Jesus Christ! Whom God has set forth to be – for us – a propitiation before Him. He has set forth His incarnated eternal Son — to be our eternal Substitute – to be our eternal Surety. Therefore, we are eternally approved by God — and made eternally accepted with God — by virtue of the person and work of Jesus Christ – His eternal Son – and righteous merits!
He placed us in Him. He gave us His Spirit to forever dwell in us. His victory over Satan, sin and death, is our victory over Satan, sin and death. All of God’s eternally saving spiritual blessings have been blessed upon us according as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world – before even time began [Eph.1:3-4; 2Tim.1:9]!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
