A Word from God's Word

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness.” Isaiah 61:10

Why does the prophet Isaiah rejoice greatly here? He does so because he has come to know and receive God’s salvation, and there can be no greater joy than that.

But notice also a couple of points that are revealed here regarding that salvation. First, “the garments of salvation” are paralleled by “the robe of righteousness”. That is, salvation is tied to righteousness; there can be no salvation without righteousness. Why is that? Quite simply, because God is holy and we are sinful. That is why we need to be saved. Without salvation, we remain condemned sinners.

But if our salvation requires righteousness, where does that righteousness come from? Not from within us; not by just trying harder. For we can never achieve God’s standard of righteousness on our own. But praise God, there is One who has: Jesus Christ.

Therefore, the “garment of righteousness” that we receive is Christ’s perfect righteousness. And how do we receive it? Through faith! Simply through trusting in Christ. As we turn to Christ through faith and trust in Him alone, we receive the righteousness of Christ. God “covers with the robe of righteousness”. We receive God’s salvation, and that is truly cause to rejoice!

Pastor Craig Montgomery, Cranbrook Fellowship Baptist

www.cranbrookfellowshipbaptist.ca  YouTube sermon channel: “Pastor Craig Montgomery”

Pastor Craig publishes  "A Word from God's Word" weekly in the "Kootenay News Advertiser".