Jesus is “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jeremiah 23:6).
Jesus is “made unto us…righteousness” (I Cor. 1:30).
Jesus is “Christ our righteousness” (Belgic Confession 22).
But what can it mean that Jesus is our righteousness? Certainly it means that Jesus himself is righteous, and how glorious is his righteousness! When the law said, “Do,” Jesus did. When the law said, “Don’t,” Jesus didn’t. Jesus stood under all the strict commandments of the righteous God’s holy law and Jesus perfectly obeyed. Oh, yes, Jesus is righteous!
But Jesus is our righteousness? What can it mean? Listen to this lovely explanation: “Jesus Christ, imputing to us all his merits and so many holy works which he has done for us and in our stead, is our righteousness” (Belgic Confession 22).
How wonderful! How unexpected! It is the language of substitution. It is the language of one doing something instead of another and for another. Jesus stood in the place of us ungodly sinners and obeyed God’s law “for us and in our stead!”
And the result of Jesus’ substitutionary obedience? We are righteous before God! Not because we obeyed a single commandment, but because Jesus obeyed every single commandment for us. Yes, we are righteous before God! Because Jesus is our righteousness.
We call Jesus’ substitutionary obedience for us his active obedience. This Reformation Day, come hear the glorious gospel and blessed comfort of Jesus’ active obedience. Come rejoice in the wonderful news that Jesus is our righteousness!