The justice system of the United States is built upon the premise that a man, accused of a crime, is innocent until proven guilty (unless of course it involves a political foe which we do not like) in a court proceeding wherein a jury of his peers hears the evidence and then passes judgement as to his guilt or innocence based upon the facts presented. Then that same system of “Justice” allows them to appeal their conviction to a higher court in hopes of overturning a guilty verdict. The man with the most skillful attorney has the best likelihood of gaining such a reversal or modification.
The court of Heaven however is presided over by an Absolute SOVEREIGN, who alone determines the guilt or innocence of HIS subjects based upon HIS holy and inviolable law. There are no juries involved, no appeals that can be made, and no modification of the sentence passed by this glorious and unchanging POTENTATE. When HE has made a guilty verdict all hope is lost. “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” (Rev 20:12)
Men, by their nature, think that they have some sort of bargaining power with the LORD or that they have the ability to mitigate the guilt which has been laid upon them, due to the imputation of Adam’s sin and their own blatant disregard for HIS precepts. They demonstrate this behavior as they think that by reforming their lives or doing more good deeds than those which they might deem as evil, that they have grounds upon which to gain the LORD’s favor and overturn the sure sentence of death which has been passed upon them. “For the wages of sin is death.” (Rom 6:23) Some even consider that they have the power to negate this verdict by the exercise of their “free-will” in meeting some condition whereby they think they will be accepted by HIM.
The guilt which ensures their condemnation is twofold: One is that they are judged as sinners since they have inherited their father, Adam’s sin which breathes damnation upon them as corrupt individuals quite apart from doing evil. “by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men.” (Rom 5:12) “by one man's offence death reigned by one.” (Rom 5:17) “by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation.” (Rom 5:18) Two, is that they are each one judged as guilty because everyone of them (without exception) has committed evil in breaking the Law of GOD, in thought and deed. Both by omitting things they should have done, and also by actual disobedience in disregarding what they have been told not to do. They are each without excuse.
This is indeed a bleak picture which is not at all palatable to the natural man, and most especially not readily received by those who have designed multiple religions which enable men to “get right” with GOD through various means. There is no human remedy for the situation in which men are born and do daily live their lives. Apart from a satisfaction of the penalty of the broken Law of GOD, by which they are under condemnation, there can be no relief. Corrupt man possesses no ability to provide such a satisfaction. For even if he could devise a scheme whereby such satisfaction could be made, he has no ability, let alone the will, to see it accomplished.
The grand mystery, (“Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col 1:26-27)) which was hidden from the foundation of the world, is that GOD HIMSELF has not only passed judgement upon the wickedness of men, but has provided HIMSELF as the SATISFACTION of HIS own Law in the behalf of a people which HE loved from that same foundation. “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (1Tim 3:16) “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (2Cor 5:19)
CHRIST JESUS has come into the world for the express purpose of saving “HIS people from their sins.” (Mat.1:21) HE has not attempted to accomplish this task and partially failed but has completely and utterly achieved HIS objective. “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isa 53:10-12)
The very sentence of death, which was passed upon HIS people, HE has borne. The guilt which was theirs as they stood before HIS righteous Law, HE has taken upon HIMSELF. The debt of obedience to the Law which they owed HE has completely settled and satisfied forever. Both as to the Law broken and the Law fulfilled. So much so that Paul writes in clear and unequivocal terms saying, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Rom 8:1-2)
HE has done all of this quite without any interaction with men as to the design or application of it. In HIS mercy HE has revealed this wondrous work which HE has wrought in the Heavens and the Earth, through the declaration of the gospel. It is through the preaching of the gospel that HE is pleased to bring this joyous news to those whom HE gives ear to hear it. “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” (2Tim 1:8-10)
It is this “word of reconciliation” which has been committed into the hands of those whom the LORD has sent into the world to declare the “unsearchable riches of CHRIST’. That word is that the “defenseless” now have a DEFENDER, an ADVOCATE, a COUNSELLOR, and FRIEND. “There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Prov 18:24) “The Son of man is come --- a friend of publicans and sinners!” (Luke 7:34) HE has had pity upon unworthy sinners, who have, to a man, been unthankful and rebellious. They have seldom paid heed to HIS counsel and often rejected HIS overtures of peace and love. Yet HIS faithfulness is such that HE has not cast them off but in HIS own time broken their stubborn hearts, subdued their rebellious spirit and brought them to the place where they call upon HIS NAME.
The world goes on in their fantasy of doing something in the power of their “free will” and own ability to plead their cause before a GOD whose Law they have trampled. Yet those for whom CHRIST has entered into the holy place, are brought to repentance by HIS grace, in HIS time, through the work of HIS SPIRIT who quickens those who are dead in trespasses and sins. They are enabled to hear the sweet message that CHRIST alone is the HOPE of the hopeless, and the DELIVERER of those that sat in darkness. The glorious gospel of the “glory of GOD” whispers sweet peace in their ears and they have thrown down their arms of rebellion and do gladly own HIM as their KING and LORD. They desire no other DEFENDER nor rest in the accomplishments of any other SAVIOR. Is CHRIST alone your DEFENCE before the judgement bar of a HOLY GOD?
mam