“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭31‬-‭34‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Imagine that you are standing in the courtroom of God. Jesus is the judge. The Accuser, the Adversary is also there to accuse and condemn…

“In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge,”

‭‭John‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You are in the dock…you who were God’s own child, but now accused of violating God’s covenant. You know that you are guilty, that you have no hope of acquittal…

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

…and that you face the death sentence…

“For the wages of sin is death…”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭23‬a NLT‬‬

The charge is read…the witnesses are called…the evidence is indisputable…the verdict inevitable. “Guilty as charged…on all counts!” The sentence is passed…”Eternal separation from God…banished to Gehenna…the trash heap…forever!” 

Imagine the Father’s grief. His own son/daughter condemned to death for treason and rebellion. You violated His covenant and rebelled against and overthrew His rule. 

Then…the Father holds up His hand. As the guards are about to take you away, the Father intervenes. “Wait,” He says. “There is one more witness that has not yet testified…” There is one person who can overturn the verdict and save you from the death sentence.  He turns to Jesus, the judge. Jesus stands up and walks to the witness stand. Then He gives His evidence and His verdict.  “Not guilty on all counts!” Why has He changed His mind?  Is the prisoner guilty or not guilty?

In God’s court of law, we are all guilty as charged. We have all been judged and condemned. We have no hope of even making an appeal. The verdict is real. The sentence is real. Under the law of God, we are all accused, guilty, condemned, and sentenced. 

The judge, Jesus Himself, now reveals the shocking truth. He has taken your place. He stood in the dock. He was judged guilty as charged…of blasphemy…the worst of all charges…claiming to be God.  He was condemned to death for you. Now He lives to plead your case. 

“Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭NLT‬‬

He was crucified, dead and buried. He paid your entire debt…you who were pretending to be God when you are not…and taking the law into your own hands.  Now you are free…free to leave the courtroom unshackled, never to face the charges again.  Jesus bought your freedom with His own blood. 

“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What will you do now? Carry on living as though nothing has happened…not guilty but still living your old life…still pretending you are God, in charge of your own affairs…

…or will you hand over the reins to the one who took your place and set you free…a love slave of Jesus, forever joined to Him because He did it all for you?

Every time God looks at you, He sees, not a condemned prisoner but a beloved son or daughter whom He Himself rescued from death and, not only that but He reinstated us to our position as children of God and co-heirs with Jesus of His inheritance…

…His glory…

“And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory….”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭17‬a NLT‬‬

…to rule the nations…

“The king proclaims the Lord’s decree: “The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father. Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

…the kingdom…

““So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

…salvation…

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

…and eternal life…

“And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19‬:‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So, we move to Paul’s final and triumphant conclusion to his presentation of the righteousness of God…what it is…and how

 it plays out In His great salvation plan. 

To be continued