THE LORD ALONE OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (ELDER MIKAL SMITH) 2024

The whole of the gospel, its fullest and only truth is THE LORD ALONE OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

Brethren, one thing I believe the Lord has taught me in my 51 years on this earth, is that our obedience and righteousness will always be imperfect, for all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags and we are accounted as unprofitable servants. All we can produce is wood, hay, and stubble. Our attempts to seek acceptance with God or keep fellowship with Him based on our obedience and righteousness are not only futile, for at the least they are inconsistent, but at the most, they continually miss the mark, therefore, it is not about inconsistency, but inability. Furthermore, to believe and preach that one’s obedience and righteousness must be maintained for continued standing ir fellowship with God is a slap in the face of the Lord Jesus who was put to death and forsaken of God to satisfy ALL God's requirements. Christ accomplished everything for salvation in both the legal and temporal aspects, insomuch that scripture says:

1 Corinthians 1:30-31

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 

And 

2 Corinthians 5:21

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

What men commonly call sanctification, does not come by law-keeping and obedience. We were sanctified(set apart) by the Father and we are preserved(kept) in Christ Jesus. Our right standing, our RIGHTEOUSNESS, is never based in what we do, it is found in the righteous work of Christ alone. It was given to all his bride before the foundation of the world(Eph 1) and we are complete in him, lacking nothing. We are complete in Christ alone.(Col 2) Nothing can be added and nothing taken away!! There is nothing more required before God and that is why the Scriptures say 

Numbers 23:21

He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob,

neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him,

and the shout of a king is among them.

But there are some who say that Christ is not enough. That His finished work is only part of the gospel and that our acceptance, our belief, and our works of obedience are needed for justification and sanctification. Those who say this are as those the Spirit spoke of when he wrote 

Romans 10:3

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

That is why Paul warned the Galatians of the false gospel of the Judaizers

Galatians 3:2-3

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Brethren, our salvation, in its entirety, is based upon Jesus alone and brings no conditions for man to keep. The natural man has no spiritual ability. The fleshly man cannot please God. That “wretched man that I am” still is present with me and has been made captive to the law of sin. This debasing of man, this being subjected to vanity, this warfare of the two men, it has been given to us by God. First, that no man should boast. Second, that all His children be made humble. Third, that we would be subjected to vanity IN HOPE! Causing us by His Spirit to hope in Christ alone! 

Lastly, He might receive the glory alone!   

Little children, our salvation is based on the covenant that has a better mediator with better promises. And those promises are made by Jesus alone based upon his work alone.

Brethren, our rest is in Christ alone. There and only there is where our righteousness is found. 

By Grace Alone,

Mikal Smith