Matthew Henry’s “Method For Prayer”

Plead with God the Merit and Righteousness of Jesus Christ

Petition 3.3 | ESV

The merit and righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ, which we rely upon as our main plea in our petition for the pardon of sin.

I know that as you are gracious and merciful, so you are the righteous God who loves righteous deeds, Psalm 11:7(ESV) and will by no means clear the guilty. Exodus 34:7(ESV) I cannot say, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything,” Matthew 18:26(ESV) for I am like one who is unclean, and all my righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. Isaiah 64:6(ESV) But Jesus Christ has become to me righteousness from God; 1 Corinthians 1:30(ESV) being made to be sin, though he knew no sin, so that in him I might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21(ESV)

I have sinned, but I have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, who is the propitiation for my sins, and not for mine only but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2(ESV)

It is God who justifies, who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that, who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for me, Romans 8:33-34(ESV) and whose blood speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Hebrews 12:24(ESV)

I desire to count everything as loss for the sake of Christ, and as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having any righteousness of my own, but that which comes through faith in Christ. Philippians 3:7-9(ESV)

This is the name whereby I, with your people, will call him, THE LORD IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jeremiah 23:6(ESV) In him, Lord, I believe; help my unbelief. Mark 9:24(ESV)

Remember, O LORD, in David’s favor, all the hardships he endured; Psalm 132:1(ESV) the Son of David, remember all his offerings and regard with favor his burnt sacrifices; Psalm 20:3(ESV) and do not turn away the face of your Anointed One, 2 Chronicles 6:42(ESV) who by his own blood has entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on my behalf. Hebrews 9:24(ESV)

Have you not yourself put forward your Son, Christ Jesus, as a propitiation for sin by his blood, to be received by faith; to show God’s righteousness for the remission of sins, to show your righteousness at the present time, so that you might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus? Romans 3:25-26(KJV) And so, I now receive reconciliation. Romans 5:11(ESV)

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