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Are You Looking to Jesus’ Righteousness?

Updated: 6 days ago

Letters of M’Cheyne Part 2 of 6


What does it mean to believe in Jesus? How can I seek and find Him? These crucial questions are pastorally answered in 6 letters that Robert Murray M’Cheyne wrote to a dying lady in his congregation. We will be posting each of these letters individually over the next few months, so we pray that they would be a blessing to you!


Robert Murray M'Cheyne (1813 - 1843) was a faithful minister at St Peter's Church in Dundee, Scotland, from 1836 to 1843. The Lord took him home to glory at the young age of 29 years old, but his love for Christ continues to encourage many today. These letters are taken from Andrew Bonar’s great biography of M’Cheyne: The Memoirs and Remains of Robert Murray M’Cheyne and slightly modernized.


Letters to a Soul Seeking Jesus (2) – Seek the Righteousness of Christ


Dear Friend,


I trust the Lord is dealing gently with you. Above all I pray that the Holy Spirit may sweetly and silently open your heart, to delight in the way of salvation through the blood and obedience of Immanuel. “Through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38-39).


I imagine that you are deeply concerned to hear that your room-mate, ___________, has been so suddenly and awfully called into eternity. Isn’t this a solemn warning to you? Oh, that you may now be clothed in the righteousness of Jesus! That way, if you were called away, you may meet God in peace, and hear Jesus say, "Enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matt. 25:21).


In yourself you will never stand righteous before Jehovah. Psalm 130 is the Holy Spirit’s answer to your spiritual situation. Your cry must be: “Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous” (Ps 143:2). In your sinful nature, in your past life, in your breaking of God’s holy law, in your contempt and neglect of Jesus, in your indwelling sin, God can see nothing but what He must condemn. Oh, that you would be of the same mind with God about your own soul! Do not be afraid to look upon its vileness; for God offers to clothe you in Jesus Christ! He says, "By the obedience of One shall many be made righteous" (Rom. 5:19).


Friend, there is only One in all the world on whose face God can look and say, "He is altogether lovely." Jesus is that one (Matt. 3:17). And God is willing that you and I should hide in Jesus (2 Cor. 5:18-21).


I feel at this moment that He is my righteousness. "This is His name whereby He shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness" (Jer. 23:6). I feel that the love of God shines upon my guilty soul through Jesus. This is all my peace!


Your tears will not blot our sin; those in Hell do nothing but weep, but that does not justify them. Your right understanding of the gospel will not justify you; you must be covered with a spotless righteousness. Your change of heart and of life will not justify you; it cannot cover past sins—neither is it perfect. Your amended life is still fearfully sinful in Jehovah's sight, and yet nothing but perfect righteousness can stand before Him. Jesus offers you this perfect righteousness; in Him you may stand and hear God say, "You are all fair, my love." Because of Jesus, there is no spot in me!.


Are you looking to Jesus in this way? Do you believe the biblical record that God has given concerning Him? Are you receiving Christ with open arms? Are you crying, "My Lord and my God;" my Surety—my all?


Dear friend, do not delay. Eternity may be near (Luke 12:20). Now is your best time, perhaps your only time, of closing with Christ. How many worlds would a lost soul in Hell trade for such an opportunity of cleaving to Christ as you have now? "He that has the Son has life" (1 John 5:12). This is all my prayer and desire for your precious, precious soul.


Ever yours in the gospel,


Robert Murray M'Cheyne


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