The Everlasting Righteousness

Reprint of the original, first published in 1873. The publishing house Anatiposi publishes historical books as reprints. Due to their age, these books may have missing pages or inferior quality. Our aim is to preserve these books and make them available to the public so that they do not get lost.

How Shall Man Be Just With God? asks the subtitle of 'The Everlasting Righteousness'. Here, indeed, is the greatest question a man may ask, and in this brief devotional study Horatius Bonar gives us the answer, an answer not to be found in man himself, but in God and the provision he has made in the Lord Jesus Christ. Here is a book which delights in 'the righteousness found only in the substitution of the Lamb, and magnifies the worth and beauty of Christ... Horatius Bonar has given us a clear book of great value on the central doctrine of the church. His poetic style will warm the heart... and his clarity will equip the preacher with a lifetime of precious quotes.'

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1873 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER X. THE HOLY LIFE OF THE JUSTIFIED. 'finO him that worketh not, but believeth, ' says the J- apostle, speaking of the way in which we are reckoned just before God. Does he by this speech make light of good works? Does he encourage an unholy walk? Does he use a rash word, which had better been left unspoken? No, truly. He is laying the foundation of good works. He is removing the great obstacle to a holy life, viz. the bondage of an unforgiven state. He is speaking, by the power of the Holy Ghost, the words of truth and soberness. The difference between working and believing is that which God would have us learn, lest we confound these two things, and so destroy them both. The order and relation of these two things are here very explicitly laid down, so as to anticipate the error of many who mix up working and believing together, or who make believing the result of working, instead of working the result of believing. We carefully distinguish, yet we as carefully connect the two. We do not put asunder what God has joined together; yet we would not reverse the divine order, nor disturb the divine relation, nor place that last which God has set first. It was not to depreciate or discourage good works that the apostle spoke of 'not working, but believing;' or of a man being 'justified by faith, witlwut the deeds of the law' (Eom. iii. 28); or of God 'imputing righteousness without works' (ib. iv. 6). It was to distinguish things that differ; it was to show the true use of faith, in connecting us, for justification, with what another has done; it was to stay us from doing anything in order to be justified. In this view, then, faith is truly a ceasing from work, and not a working; it is not the doing of anything in order to be justified, .

A classic devotional work on the gospel that must be cherished, preserved and have a permanent place on your bookshelf.For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."-Romans 1:17The awakened conscience of the sixteenth century betook itself to "the righteousness of God" (Rom 1:17). There it found refuge at once from condemnation and from impurity.Only by "righteousness" could it be pacified; and nothing less than that which is divine could meet the case. At the cross this "righteousness" was found-human yet divine, provided for man, and presented to him by God for relief of conscience and justification of life. On the one word, ??????????, "It is finished" (Joh 19:30), as on a heavenly resting-place, weary souls sat down and were refreshed. The voice from the tree did not summon them to do, but to be satisfied with what was done. Millions of bruised consciences there found healing and peace.The belief of that finished work brought the sinner into favour with God, nor did it leave him in uncertainty as to this. The justifying work of Calvary was God's way not only of bringing pardon, but of securing certainty. It was the only perfect thing that had ever been presented to God in man's behalf; and so peculiar was this perfection, that it might be used by man in his transactions with God, as if it were his own.

Abridged versions of two works Part 1 - 'The Everlasting Righteousness' by Bonar Part 2 - 'Regeneration' by Ryle Part of the Grace Essentials series