Trust . . . His Righteousness

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Zechariah 3:1-4 (KJV)

1. And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
2. And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan, even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: it not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
3. Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
4. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.

1. In God's eyes sin is ugly, righteousness is beautiful . . .
   My concordance defines sin as "an offense in the sight of God." However, the opposite of sin, righteousness, is pleasing to God and speaks of things being as God designed them to be. In our text, Joshua is clothed with offensive (filthy) garments -- a type of sin. Ezra 10:18 tells us that the sin of Joshua was sexual immorality within his life and his sons' lives.
   1. The devil knows God can't stand sin . . . "Satan standing at his right hand . . ." (v.1).
      The picture here is of a courtroom where the accused (Joshua) stands before God and Satan is the prosecutor. The prosecutor is asking for God's judgment and condemnation.
      
      
      
   2. Joshua forgot his life couldn't bear sin . . . "he was clothed with filthy garments" (v.3).
      For some reason people think God prohibits certain things to take away the fun in life. Just the opposite is true. God prohibits certain things to bring to you the joy of living. Joshua's sons' marriages to foreign wives reintroduced idolatry into the nation of Israel. The point, however, is not why Joshua sinned, but what happened when he sinned.
2. In God's eyes the only righteousness acceptable is Christ's . . .
   Christ took Joshua (as he does you and me) and clothed him with "a change of raiment."
   1. It won't do to wash your own clothes . . .
      Religion will tell you to do, but Christ says "done." It is not about you doing anything to make yourself acceptable and pleasing to God, but coming to God clothed "in Christ."
      
      
      
      
      
   2. You must receive Christ's clothes . . .
      
      
      Isaiah describes salvation as being "covered with the robe of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10). This covering of Christ's righteousness is to be acknowledged by us daily (Philippians 3:7-8).
   3. It is this covering of Christ's righteousness that brings blessing . . .
      "Blessed is the man unto whom God imputes righteousness without works" (Romans 4:6).
      1. We have acceptance with God . . . He accepts us as righteous as His son.
      2. We have access to God . . . He receives us as openly as His son.
      3. We have assurance from God . . . He cares for us as deeply as His son.
3. In God's eyes the gospel is the open display of His righteousness . . .
   "The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shown in the sight of the heathen" (Psalm 98:2). Read Romans 3:25-26.
   • The Father designed salvation for sinners as an open display of His absolute righteousness.
   • The Son died for sinners in fulfillment of God's absolute righteousness and hatred of sin.
   • The Spirit delivers into the hearts of sinners the conviction of righteousness and sin.

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