Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost
Daily Lectionary: Numbers 20:22-21:9, Luke 20:45-21:19
Let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God;
yes, let them rejoice exceedingly. (Psalm 68:3)
Tomorrow is the Festival of Pentecost! It is a great opportunity for rejoicing. For the promised Spirit of Christ comes down on that day, to do His wonderful work for the church. The Spirit is instrumental in the formation of the Christian church, in the communion of saints, in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.
How is the Spirit so involved in all of these things for believers? It all is related to the righteousness Christians share. The righteous are the ones who are glad on Pentecost, because they know from where their righteousness comes.. Free from sin, believers have Christ’s righteousness.
The Holy Ghost plays a very big, although invisible, role in your acquiring righteousness. He is the One who converts you to faith in Christ Jesus to begin with, of course, but that’s not all He does. He is also the One who takes your sins washed away from you at the Font, all the way to the cross of Christ Jesus.
There at Calvary, Jesus becomes sin on your behalf, bearing your guilt, and suffering your punishment for you in your place. He empties Himself of His own goodness at the cross, giving up His holy righteousness in exchange for your sins. Then, the Holy Spirit carries His righteousness from the cross to you, crediting Jesus’ righteousness to your account.
This is a far cry from the rebellious, who like to think that they have their own righteousness. Trusting in themselves and their own self-righteousness, they fall into Satan’s trap of no longer considering themselves sinners. They think they have a handle on things, and do everything right now. But, their righteousness is empty and impotent.
You, however, are righteous because you have been made blameless in God’s sight. Jesus took the blame for you at Calvary, and your sins are no longer held against you.
Rejoice, therefore, that your righteousness is a done deal, a free gift from your Savior to you. Be glad and exult before the Lord Who has lifted you up out of the muck and mire of your sins. Rejoice greatly that you are all right in God’s sight, now and forevermore.
Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness, my beauty are, my glorious dress; midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed, with joy shall I lift up my head. (LSB #563, v. 1)