Let us think a little bit more about what Jeremiah declared, for his words enable us to understand new-covenant grace.

The verse above reminds us of a New Testament passage:

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (I John 1:7)

The whole book of First John shows us that through the blood of the cross we receive not only forgiveness of sins but the removal of sins so that we walk righteously before God and keep all of His commandments. The great error of our day is that we view new-covenant grace as forgiveness apart from the removal of our sinful nature. In today's preaching there is very little writing of the law of God in our mind and heart, only forgiveness. This is not the new covenant!

Again, from Jeremiah:

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness. For thus saith the Lord; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; (Jeremiah 33:14-17)

The Man who will sit on the throne of the house of Israel is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us think about the expression, "The Lord our righteousness." It is here that the great confusion in Christian thinking occurs. The Lord our righteousness could be interpreted to mean the Lord is righteous and we become righteous by identification with Him. This is a logical conclusion but totally destructive of the moral strength of the Kingdom of God.

If it were true that The Lord our righteousness means that the Lord is righteous and we are righteous only by identification with Him, then the greater portion of the writing of the Apostles in the New Testament is unnecessary. If the only or even primary righteousness that we have is that which comes to us by identification with Christ, then the Lord has saved us in our sins but not from our sins. This would be an incomplete redemption.

Think of the consequences of such a position for the Church of God? The members are still worldly, full of lust, and directed by their own self-will. They cannot be distinguished from the world by their thinking, speech, or actions. They are adulterers, fornicators, and addicted to pornography. They have no intention of laying down their life, taking up their cross, and following Jesus. All of their righteousness proceeds from their identification with the Righteous One.

This is what is preached today. This is why the members of the Christian churches, to a great extent, are worldly, full of lust, and disobedient to God. It is an error of monumental proportions and it has destroyed the Christian testimony.

To be continued.