Once again we have a series of
rhetorical questions. And in this case, Paul wants us to imagine a courtroom
setting.
Of course, according to Scripture,
it’s not really an issue of us being found guilty sometime in the future.
According to John’s Gospel, everyone who hasn’t believed in Jesus is condemned already.
I know I’m guilty, Satan (the Prosecutor) knows I’m guilty, the Judge knows I’m
guilty, and even my own Defense Attorney knows I’m guilty.
But then there’s a hitch. The
Prosecutor keeps hurling accusations against me, and the Judge keeps saying “Not
guilty.” He can accuse me of whatever he wants, he can throw everything—including the kitchen sink—against me,
and none of it will stick. Why?
Because the moment I received
Christ, the Judge declared me “Not guilty” since my sins have already been
punished. There’s no Double Jeopardy in his courtroom. Even better than “Not
Guilty,” he’s declared me to have the perfect righteousness
of Jesus Christ.
And if God, the Judge over
everything seen and unseen, has declared me not only not guilty but completely
righteous, then who’s going to successfully bring an accusation against me? The
Accuser is never going to get a hearing. The only One who’s qualified to judge
me has declared himself to be my adopted Father. So good luck with that. In any
other context, the Prosecuting Attorney would immediately hold a press
conference claiming “The fix was in! I lost this case before I ever walked into
the courthouse!!!”
The remainder of vs. 34 gives four
reasons why I can never ever ever be condemned in God’s courtroom
(the only one that matters):
1)
My Savior died in my place. He
was pierced for my transgressions, he was crushed for my iniquities; the
punishment that brought me peace was on him, and by his wounds I am healed. I was
just like a sheep, having gone astray; just like everyone else, I turned to my
own way; and the Lord laid on him my iniquity, my sin, and my
transgressions.
2)
He then rose from the dead. According to
Paul in another passage,
he was raised to life “for” my justification. The word could also be translated
as “because of,” which is how the NASB renders
it, and I actually like it better. The word could go either way, and
commentators disagree on how to translate/interpret it. But this is the
explanation that makes the most sense to me: From MacArthur, “The resurrection
provided proof that God had accepted the sacrifice of His Son and would be able
to be just and yet justify the ungodly.”
3)
He ascended to the right hand of the Father. My Savior passed through the
Heavens, walked through the ultimate hero’s welcome, and sat down at the right
hand of God. He’s at the place of ultimate authority, second only to the Father
himself. This puts the final “stamp of approval” from the Father regarding his
work.
4)
And finally Paul explicitly assures us that this same Jesus--who died, rose
again, and ascended on high—is now pleading on our behalf. He’s the One who
intercedes for us. The same One who’s sitting at the right hand of God the
Father. If I tried to walk up to the main gate at the White House and tried to
get the guard to let me in to talk with the President, you can guess how much
luck I'd have. But if I knew the President’s child on a personal basis, I’d be in.
This
is so important. Remember, this passage is at the end of an entire chapter
dedicated to calming our fears and removing our doubts. When the Accuser comes
to you and whispers in your ear, direct him back to your Father. He knows how
to deal with this.
Lord Jesus, thank you so much for what
you did and am doing for me. But the best is yet to come, isn’t it? Can’t wait.
No comments:
Post a Comment