[May 14]
God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. II Corinthians 5:19
CHRIST kept the Law and satisfied divine Justice
for all who become his during the Gospel age; and his
merit is imputed to those who keep the Law in their
heart and are hindered from keeping it absolutely by
the weaknesses of their fallen flesh which they are unable
to control.
And so the Apostle Paul says that the
righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in us who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
First of all, through
the imputation of his merit to their mortal bodies, their
flesh, our Redeemer covers their natural imperfections.
Second, because that body so devoted, so justified,
is sacrificed, he reckons them dead as human
beings.
They are then begotten to a new, a spirit
nature.
Thenceforth their mortal body is counted as
the body of the new creature, no longer as a human
body; for this was sacrificed.
Actually, however, it is
quickened to be the servant of the new creature.
Being
still actually human, it must be given a robe of
righteousness to wear until the end of the present life.
This is furnished by the Savior. Z'16-198 R5918:3 (Hymn 54)