The Lord Our Righteousness (Gospel essentials)

“Whoever is acquainted with . . . the propensity of his own heart . . . must acknowledge that self-righteousness is the last idol that is rooted out of the heart . . . it is natural for us all to have recourse to a covenant of works, for our everlasting salvation.” This sermon explores the doctrine of the righteousness of Jesus Christ being imputed to mankind, taken from the text of Jeremiah 23:6. It explains who the Lord is and how He is man’s righteousness. Four objections are covered and also the ill consequences of denying this doctrine. Finally an exhortation for all to come to faith in Christ. The “Lord Our Righteousness” is one of George Whitefield’s most popular sermons.

GEORGE WHITEFIELD (1714–1779) was born in Gloucester, England. He attended Pembroke College at Oxford, where he was a member of the Holy Club with Charles and John Wesley. The group was highly disciplined and “methodical” in their performance of religion. In 1735, he read Henry Scougal’s The Life of God and the Soul of Man and had a spiritual new birth. Ordained in 1736, he started preaching and became very popular immediately. He crossed the Atlantic Ocean many times and preached in churches and open fields. Gifted with a prodigious voice and untiring energy he preached to huge crowds with great consequence.