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THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NE S S Pharisees and many professing Chris tians are going about to establish their own righteousness. (Rom. 10:3). None such can enter into the kingdom. When the King comes, and the kingdom is established on earth, the law of the kingdom will be in operation. There 'will then be a righteous reign. PRACTICAL POINTS. (1) A poor man possesses a kingdom. (2) Here blessings are bestowed upon men in order that they may be blessings. (3) A meek man becomes master of the earth. (4) There will be a righteous reign when He comes whose right it is to reign. (5) Men can be happy when they are cursed, and highly honored when they are slandered. (6) Human nature has hatred for its enemies, but the new nature has nothing but love. (7) There is sinless perfection for a sinner, but it is in the next life. (8) The imperfect perfection is that which professes to be perfect. Subject Illustration on Righteousness. “ Righteousness,” says Arnot, “ is God’s first requirement and our first need. For this the hypocrite toils as he clothes his nakedness with filthy rags; for this the humble LESSON hunger and thirst; ILLUSTRATIONS for this the law W. H. Pike rages like the sea in a storm; and this in Divine perfection the Lord Jesus has wrought out, and brought in, and offered free.” But the righteous ness in the Sermon on the Mount is not a righteousness reckoned to us but a righteousness worked out through us. An old Presbyterian stood up in a meeting one day M^sald he was a sin ner, vile and p^^^fcd. But he said Christ’s robe of righteousness covered
all his filthiness. He added “ My robe of righteousness is just like that filthy barnyard all covered with white beaut iful snow.” A Salvation Army lassie jumped up and said, “ Brother what a mess you would be if you had a thaw.” He needed imparted righteousness as well as imputed righteousness. Difference Between . Law and Faith Righteousness. It is the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Law Righteousness was given to those who were already under the atonement of blood sacrifice. Faith Righteousness is for those who have never found relief from sin. The Sermon on the Mount like the Old Testament law is for in struction in righteousness to those who have atonement through Christ. Faith Righteousness is like the clothes we wear that makes us presentable to ap pear in public, but Law Righteousness is the way we think, act and live before God and men. Christ is the Righteous ness of God unto sinners— this is Faith Righteousness. The Holy Spirit repro ducing Christ’s life in the Christian is the righteousness of God unto the sin ner. We need Christ’s righteousness to make us fit to stand before God. Hav ing this we need God’s righteousness worked out in us as a testimony to men. Difference Between Faith Righteousness and Law Righteousness. Faith Righteousness is what Jesus purchased for us on the Cross. Law Righteousness is what Jesus works through us by the Spirit. Faith Righteousness fits us to stand before God. Law righteousness fits us to stand be fore men. The Blood Atonement gives the sin ner Faith Righteousness. The Power of the risen Christ works out Law Righteousness in us. Many today are trying to keep the Sermon on the Mount without having the sin question settled by atonement.
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