_Fourthly_, CHRIST’s righteousness may be called an everlasting righteousness, because the benefit of it is to endure to everlasting life. Indeed, some people tell us, that a person may be in CHRIST to-day, and go to the devil to-morrow: but, blessed be GOD, ye have not so learned CHRIST! No, my dear friends, thanks be to GOD for that divine text, “There is now no condemnation to them that are in CHRIST JESUS.” Though GOD’s people may fall foully; and though many are full of doubts and fears, and say, “One day I shall fall by the hands of _Saul_;” however ye may say in your haste, “All men are liars;” however your poor souls may be harassed, yet no wicked devil, nor your own depraved heart, shall be able to separate you from the love of GOD: GOD has loved you, GOD has fixed his heart upon you, and having loved his own, he loves them unto the end. The LORD of life and of glory, the blessed JESUS, will never cease loving you, till he hath loved and brought you to heaven; when he will rejoice, and say, “Behold me, O my Father, and the dear children that thou hast given me; thou gavest them me; thine they were, I have bought them with my blood, I have won them with my sword and with my bow, and I now will wear them as so many jewels of my crown.” Therefore, JESUS CHRIST’s righteousness may be called an everlasting righteousness, because those who once take hold of, and are interested in it, shall be saved everlastingly by CHRIST: “It is GOD that justifies us, (says St. _Paul_) who is he that condemneth? It is CHRIST that died, yea rather that is risen again.” He gives devils the challenge, “O death, where is thy sting, O grave, where is thy victory? Who shall separate us from the love of GOD? I am persuaded that neither death nor life, neither principalities nor powers, nor any other creature, shall ever be able to seperate us from the love of GOD, which is in CHRIST JESUS our LORD.” Those whom GOD justifies, he also glorifies. And because CHRIST lives, blessed be GOD, we shall live also. I know not what you may say; but though I trust I have felt the grace of CHRIST, yet I find that I have as much need to come to CHRIST every day for fresh strength, as if I had never believed before: and if I was to depend upon my own faithfulness, and not the faithfulness of the Son of GOD, I am sure I should soon desert the LORD JESUS CHRIST. But glory be to GOD, he is faithful that hath promised! Glory be to GOD, our salvation depends not upon our own free will, but upon GOD’s free grace! Here is a sure bottom; the believer may build upon it; let the storms blow as long and as high as they please, they may make the poor creature tremble, but blessed be GOD, they never shall be able to take him off the foundation; though they may shake him, they shall only shake off his corruption: and I believe all that fear GOD, will be glad to part with it. On all these accounts, CHRIST’s righteousness may be called an everlasting righteousness.
III. It is said, in my text, that JESUS was to bring it in. What are we to understand by his bringing it in? Our LORD’s promulgating and proclaiming it to the world. Indeed, it was brought in under the law; but then it was brought in under types and shadows, and most of the _Jews_ looked no further. But JESUS CHRIST brought life and immortality to light by the gospel. The light of _Moses_ was only twilight; the light of the gospel, is like the sun at noon-day, shining in his full meridian. Therefore, JESUS CHRIST may be said to bring in this everlasting righteousness, because he proclaimed it to the world, and commanded it to be preached, that GOD sent his Son into the world, that the world through him might be saved.