Everlasting Righteousness

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."

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.

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"