Bible Studies

WHO?

by Luella Campbell
08/05/14
Not For Sale
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WHO?

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all -- how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? "Who will bring any charge against those whom God had chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died -- more than that, who was raised to life -- is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." Romans 8:31-34.

What a grand climax! Paul must have enjoyed and used his legal mind to bring his readers to this point where he could show them how secure they were in what God has done. There is no court higher than God, and when He declares sinners not guilty, places them in a new position with Him -- sons and daughters -- and sees them already perfected, not even the devil himself can contradict or oppose His ruling.

Everything God did was done according to the highest legal correctness. Man's debt of sin was paid in full by one who no debt of His own to pay. God could legally justify sinners and lavish on them all His mercy because of Jesus' death. He wanted them back in His family and there is nothing to stop Him from bringing them home and restoring them to their privileged position as His own beloved children.

By His obedience, Jesus undid everything Adam brought on the human race by his disobedience. Adam was banished from the Garden of Eden -- God's lavish source of supply. He had to wrest a living from a hostile environment. Now, in Christ Jesus, we have access to all of God's resources because we are His children. Is there anything excluded in the "all things"?

Adam was charged with breaking God's commandment. He was found guilty, driven from his home and cut off from the presence of God.

"But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ." Ephesians 2:13.

But through Jesus, guilty sinners are not only justified -- declared not guilty because their debt has been paid; their status has been changed. They are a new creation; a new species who are no longer sinners but saints, set apart from sin to God as His sons and daughters.

Adam was condemned to death for his crime, and brought death upon all of creation. But, through Jesus, we are no longer condemned but accepted, adopted and affirmed as His children, made alive by His Spirit.

"For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will -- to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves." Ephesians 1:4-6.

There is no other answer to Paul's question, "Who?" than "No one!" There is no court of appeal higher than God, and His verdict is, "Not guilty! No charge! Case dismissed!" Every obstacle and hindrance between us and our heavenly Father has been removed. Even the great heavy curtain that shut people out of the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom.

But we still have an accuser and he is quick to jump in when we mess up, with his accusation and condemnation. What do we do about him? We silence his lies just as Jesus did, with the truth. We have God's authority to speak what He has already spoken, "Not guilty!"

When we sin, instead of going through the agony of guilt and condemnation, we go to our advocate -- Jesus -- who is in the presence of the Father making intercession for us. He places His blood between us and our accuser and speaks the truth -- "Not guilty!"

"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father -- Jesus Christ the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:1, 2.

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