December 4, 2024
The Righteous Branch - Part 3
Jeremiah 23:6
12/04/2024
6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will
dwell securely. And this is the name by which he
will be called: The LORD is our righteousness.
(ESV)
A fun topic for conversation, why did your parents choose
your name? Are you named for a relative or a close friend? Are
you named to honor an event or a place which is special to your
family? Is your name a play on words, such as the name of
William Lear's second daughter, Shanda?
The prophet Jeremiah, writing of the coming Messiah, said as
inspired by the Holy Spirit: ``In his days Judah will be saved,
and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he
will be called: The LORD is our righteousness.''
The names by which our Savior is known tell of the love and
grace of God. Jesus means ``The LORD is our salvation.''
Immanuel says ``God is with us.''
``The LORD is our righteousness,'' one of the titles given
to the Messiah, clearly proclaims the Gospel, that we, by our own
works, by our own efforts, by our own desires, cannot earn
righteousness. Salvation from sin and death, redemption from our
transgressions, is a gift because Jesus lived, died, and rose
again from the dead to defeat the devil. Satan lies crushed
under His feet.
Because the LORD is our righteousness, Saint Paul could
write: ``For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this
is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of
works, so that no one may boast.''[1] Because the LORD is our
righteousness, we have the hope of everlasting life. May our
Lord give us the faith to hold to the name of Jesus, our
Salvation, who is our righteousness. Amen.
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1. Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)