Thursday, November 16, 2017

Our Sovereign God Justifies


"Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is He that condemns? 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 8:33–34)

Satan is the slanderer par excellence. One of the hardest things we face as Christians is false charges brought against us. Even harder to face, sometimes, are the true charges leveled against us. Zechariah 3:1 shows Satan standing at God’s right hand, accusing the saints. But Paul encourages us to look past this to the fact that God has chosen us (cf. Zechariah 3:2). Only God can pass a sentence of condemnation against us, and He has declared us free of condemnation. Thus, there is no one who can bring a charge against us. The sovereign God, who controls all things, is on our side!

God has given all power into the hands of His Son, Christ Jesus. Satan has been banished, and now it is Jesus who stands at God’s right hand. Jesus has the power to condemn us. But will He do so? How can He, since He has already died for us? If He were to condemn us, His death for our sins would be meaningless.

So far from accusing us, the One who stands at God’s right hand is now pleading for us! When Satan, a mere creature, accused us, God dismissed the charges. Now we find the second person of the Holy Trinity, the sovereign, all-controlling God Himself, interceding for us. How can we ever imagine that we can be condemned when this is true? How can we ever dream that our justification is anything other than totally, absolutely, and permanently secure?

Our justification in God’s law court is not only legally secure, it is secured by the omnipotent power of the predestinating sovereignty of God. How amazing this is! Take time today to meditate and marvel at this wonderful reality. Rejoice in God’s sovereign predestination which is your security and glorification.