April 13 – Christ, Our Peace and Righteousness

“Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” – Acts 5:31, KJV

Seated at the right hand of the Father is our exalted Prince and Savior, Christ Jesus. He stands there not merely as a symbolic figure, but as our active Mediator, ready to clothe every believing soul with His perfect robe of righteousness. This garment, woven in the loom of heaven, contains not one thread of human merit. Those who are saved in God’s kingdom will have no grounds for boasting. All glory and praise belong to God alone—the Giver of salvation.

It is not the sinner’s task to make peace with God through his own efforts. True peace is found in accepting Christ as both our peace and our righteousness. In Him alone can the soul be united with the Father. The heart cannot be made holy through self-effort or moral striving. Holiness comes only through faith in Jesus.

Many mistakenly believe that repentance is something they must achieve before they can come to Christ—as if it were a prerequisite that must be generated by human strength. Yet, this idea places the burden on the sinner to prepare himself to meet the Savior. While it is true that forgiveness follows repentance, it is also true that the sinner must first come to Christ in order to receive the gift of repentance.

Repentance is just as much a gift of Christ as is forgiveness. We cannot manufacture it on our own. It is the virtue of Christ that enlightens the mind and softens the heart, producing repentance that is godly and acceptable. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the soul is led to sorrow for sin—not as a human achievement, but as a divine gift. The contrite heart, the grace of confession, the tears of true repentance—all come by the merits of Christ and through His atoning blood.

Before God forgives, He first draws the heart to Himself in repentance. It is Christ who implants sorrow for sin, and then washes it away.

When the sinner accepts Christ and abides in Him, Jesus removes the guilt, the weaknesses, and the burdens of sin. Then He grafts the repentant soul into Himself, as a branch is united with the vine. Apart from this connection, we are nothing. We have nothing, unless we are constantly receiving virtue, strength, and righteousness from Christ.

Let us cling to Him, for He is our only source of peace and holiness.