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The Everlasting Righteousness

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Rarely does profound theology find such eloquent expression as in this little book. Bonar reflects on the substitutionary atonement of Christ in a way that puts to shame the many "devotional" writers found today. The theology is precise and life changing, and beautiful as well. There is no sophistry here though. Just a man who loved true doctrine and had a gift with expression.

Check out the many hymns he has written as well. Some of them are found in his book "Longing for Heaven"

Here is a book that scripturally explains the saving work of God in Christ Jesus and cuts through the false gospel of "ask Jesus in your heart." One gets excited by reading such dynamic thoughts on salvation. This book and "Justification by Faith Alone" by Charles Hodge break through the unbiblical teachings concerning saving grace being propagated today.

An excellent treatment of our righteousness in Christ. Chapter 8 is worth the price all by itself.

"For the cross saves completely, or not at all. Our faith does not divide the work of salvation between itself and the cross. It is the acknowledgement that the cross alone saves, and it saves alone. Faith adds nothing to the cross nor to its healing virtue. It owns the fullness and the sufficiency and the suitableness of the work done there and bids the toiling spirit cease from its labours and enter into rest. Faith does not come to Calvary to do anything. It comes to see the glorious spectacle of all things done and to accept this completion without misgiving as to its efficacy. It listens to the "It is finished" of the sin-bearer and says "Amen!" Where faith begins, there labour ends--labour, I mean, for life and for pardon. Faith is rest, not toil. It is the giving up of all the former weary efforts."

And from chapter 2: "With a weak faith and a fearful heart, many a sinner stands before the altar. But it is not the strength of his faith, but the perfection of the sacrifice, that saves; and no feebleness of faith, no dimness of eye, no trembling of hand, can change the efficacy of our burnt-offering. The vigor of our faith can add nothing to it, nor can the poverty of it take anything from it. Faith, in all its degrees, still reads the inscription, 'The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin;' and if at times the eye is so dim that it cannot read these words, through blinding tears or bewildering mist, faith rests itself on the certain knowledge of the fact that the inscription is still there, or at least that the blood itself (of which these words remind us) remains, in all its power and suitableness, upon the altar unchanged and unaffected."

The most important question a man can ask is 'How shall a sinful man be made just with a Holy God?'. The fact that the Lord God justifies the ungodly is clearly laid out in the fifth chapter 'Righteousness For The Unrighteous'. This is done without compromising,relaxing or setting aside His righteous standard.

Bonar's style could be described as devotional but is theologically accurate just as many of his beloved hymns,such as 'Not What My Hands Have Done'. The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is so powerfully and clearly captured in that hymn for the ages.

In chapter seven 'Not Faith But Christ' Pastor Bonar makes the important distinction that it is not faith itself that saves(that would make it man's work and would give some reason to boast). What faith does is unite one to the saving work of Christ(the righteousness of Christ)which any sinner needs to be saved. The author highlights this "Faith connects us with the righteousness ,and is therefore totally distinct from it.To confound the one with the other is to subvert the whole Gospel of the grace of God."

In chapter nine 'The Pardon And Peace Made Sure' and chapter ten 'The Holy Life Of The Justified' he is careful to separate justification and sanctification. Our justification is Christ for us-the laying down His life as our substitute,dying the death that we deserve and incurring the wrath which our sins deserve.We are justified not by anything in us or from us but through our Savior being made sin for us.Our sanctification is Christ in us-our working is the result of our believing.We do good works,submit to God's rule,conform our life to His Word,seek to love God and love our neighbor,not to be justified but because we have already been justified(through faith in the Lord Jesus).There must be Biblical discernment(the ability to distinguish between things that differ) as it relates to justification and sanctification.They are both part of God's saving work but we are not saved by our sanctification(good works will be the necessary evidence of our justification).The Roman Catholic Church has historically taught that a person is justified by their sanctification.That is why in that system of teaching there can be no assurance of salvation because you never know when you've done enough works to be justified. That is not what the Word of God teaches.

The Everlasting Righteousness puts justification and sanctification in their proper Biblical perspective.The Gospel is clearly and plainly presented.This book is an excellent evangelistic tool to place in the hands of those who are ignorant of the GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD.