Trent's weekly muse - 4th Nov - It is God Who Justifies
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?
It is God who justifies.
Romans 8 :33
I think one of the saddest things that I see today in the church, is the bondage that so many Christians are living in. This bondage is a lie that has come from the very pit of hell and goes to the very heart of all that is Christianity. The bondage I am talking about is the belief that Gods’ main role is judge. That He is a judge who is very stern and demanding, watching every little move we make and that He is keeping a big list of all our wrongs. Then when things go wrong in our lives we think that God is judging us.
This actually is calling into question the character of God. The Bible tells us that the starting point of faith is not only believing that God exists but that He is good (Heb 11:6).
Last week in my sermon I made the comment that the enemy would attack by calling into question, or challenging us in 3 areas:
- The character of God
- Our Identity
- The sufficiency of the cross ( sermon 30 Oct – How can we know Gods voice)
To begin to live a victorious, fruitful Christian life we must get the revelation in our hearts that God is our loving father who is committed to our success. God does not bring charges against us, in fact just the opposite - Romans 8: 33 tells us He justifies us. What does that mean – the New Living Translation puts it this way : Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God Himself has given us right standing with Himself.
Isn’t that awesome – God himself has given us right standing with Himself. How? Through the blood of our wonderful saviour Jesus.
So what does that really mean for me?
Well, the devil tries to get you to believe that God watches you with a critical eye and punishes you for wrong. And so often when something goes wrong or there is sickness in your family the devil will come and say “well that is Gods’ judgement on you.’. The result is that you begin to live under condemnation and you begin to distance yourself from God.
Nothing is further from the truth – ever since the cross, where Jesus was judged in your place for every one of your wrong actions, thoughts and words, God no longer judges you, His child. In fact we are told that Jesus is always interceding for you (Heb 7:25). That means tight now Jesus is in heaven speaking life over you, praying for blessing and the Father’s favour. I don’t know about you but that makes me feel pretty special and empowered
When you begin to feel condemned or you come under the attack of the enemy stand on the truth of God’s word and begin to declare the truth of His word over you
- I am a child of God
- I am free from condemnation
- I am completely forgiven
- I have been made righteous before God
- I am seated in heavenly places
- I refuse to accept condemnation
- I am free
- I am alive to God
- I reject every symptom of the curse
Stand on the truth of God’s word and watch Him deliver and bless you.
Don’t accept condemnation because Jesus took all your punishment at the cross.
Live free and in the fullness of the delight of the Father
P.S. I just love the way the Message Bible translates those great verses at the end of Romans 8
"So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing Himself to the worst by sending His own Son, is there anything else He wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! ….. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us."