this will be my primary blog now.
Blessings to you all in Christ,
Andrew
Monday, July 18, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Recently, I thought of this quote by John Bunyan again. He writes:
"But one day, as I was passing in the field, and that too with some dashes on my conscience, fearing lest yet all was not right, suddenly this sentence fell upon my soul, Thy righteousness is in heaven; and methought withal, I saw, with the eyes of my soul, Jesus Christ at God’s right hand; there, I say, as my righteousness; so that wherever I was, or whatever I was adoing, God could not say of me, He wants my righteousness, for that was just before him. I also saw, moreover, that it was not my good frame of heart that made my righteousness better, nor yet my bad frame that made my righteousness worse; for my righteousness was Jesus Christ himself, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever (Heb 13:8). Now did my chains fall off my legs indeed, I was loosed from my affliction and irons, my temptations also fled away... " (Bunyan, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, §229-230).
Indeed, our righteousness is Christ alone who stands at the right hand of God interceding for us (Rom 8:34). Our good works do not 'positionally' make us more righteous before God, and our bad works do not 'positionally' make us less righteous before God. No, our righteousness is in heaven, consummated in Christ our Savior -who is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8). Perhaps it is this very profound reality that prompted me to right this villanelle. May this bless and encourage you.
'Tis Christ, My Righteousness (10/14/09)
Herein lays my righteousness, secure and pure it stays-
Nay, such righteousness is not mine own, but imputed freely.
'Tis Jesus Christ, that stands, the same in former -and forever- days.
A fixed foundation firm -it doth not shake in slightest stray,
Solid stance in purchased grace through Christ, eternally–
Herein lays my righteousness, secure and pure it stays.
I gaze upon Thy throne above with holiness array,
αξιον το αρνον το εσφογμενον - [φηεμι]
'Tis Jesus Christ, that stands, the same in former -and forever- days.
A flowing fount' of cov'nant blood -pardons with ransom pays,
My debt pierced, nailed –fasten tightly to a tree therein at Calvary.
Herein lay my righteousness, secure and pure it stays.
With holy hosts a hymn we sing of eternal praise,
Shouts –sing in rejoicing awe, enraptured unto reverent prostrate knees.
'Tis Jesus Christ, that stands, the same in former -and forever- days.
O Saints rise up, we're sinners all –but in triumph we will say,
"To our King be glory, to our King be glory!" –infinitely.
Herein lays my righteousness, secure and pure it stays,
'Tis Jesus Christ, that stands, the same in former -and forever- days.
~Andrew T. Preston
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