by Dr. Lance Latham
“There is simply no possibility whatsoever that a person can achieve standing before God on the basis of his own defaced, despicable righteousness. A Christian, therefore, is not merely one who has been through the emotion of a moment, or who has newly purposed or has newly promised. Rather, a Christian has abandoned all hope of his own personal moral credentials and receives as his sole and complete basis for standing before God the finished and complete righteousness which Jesus Christ purchased on Calvary’s cross and imputed to him. To “impute” means to “ascribe,” to “put to one’s account.” Personal righteousness does not save us; imputed righteousness alone satisfies divine holiness and makes the sinner acceptable before God.”
Clothed in His righteousness alone. The unmerited favor of God. Grace.
It is because Christ first loved us and clothed us in His own perfect righteousness that we have a gift to share with the world.
(Lance Latham was Pastor of the Northside Gospel Center in Chicago, one of the founders of New Tribes Mission (now Ethnos360) and AWANA. When NTM’s USA offices were in Woodworth I remember week long missions conferences at Camp AWANA where “Doc Latham” was a favorite especially among children for his masterful use of a piano. Randy)
Thanks to Bob Nyberg, missionary educator, for bringing this to my attention.