Were: Justified — Monday
Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ… (NIV)
Imagine yourself sitting in the defendant’s seat. The trial has been long, gut-wrenching, and terrifying. You have no idea how you got here. As you’ve watched the trial unfold, the evidence is overwhelming. You are guilty. It’s like you remember all the terrible things you’ve done through a fog. It doesn’t seem real, but it is. You’d take back these awful things in a heartbeat, but it’s too late. The evidence makes you absolutely sick with remorse; however, the things you’ve done must be punished. You’ve hurt too many people, and it’s clear that this overwhelming debt will either cost you your life or, at best, life in prison.
Fortunately, almost all of us reading this won’t ever go through an experience like this. We won’t do anything that warrants this process, and we won’t have to endure person after person giving testimony to the worst things we’ve done on our worst days. However, the Bible makes it clear that we are guilty of sin. This sin against our perfect and eternal Creator God must be dealt with. Every single person reading this has violated the Law spelled out in the Bible, given to us by the perfect lawgiver, God.
Back to the courtroom. You are now waiting for the judge to give the sentence. Your guilt, shame, sobs of your loved ones, and the weariness of the trial come down to this one moment. The judge bangs his gavel and pronounces, “Forgiven!” Not guilty, not innocent, but forgiven. How can that be? You are actually guilty, but this judge has moved through declaring guilt or innocence and into sentencing. The judge has made it known that, in spite of your guilt, your debt has been paid. In an instant, you’ve gone from 100% condemned to 0% condemned, from 0% forgiven to 100% forgiven. You can now walk out of the courtroom free.
Monday’s Reflection
At its essence, this story illustrates what it means to be justified biblically. Praise God for His grace in your own justification today.
*Note: To give credit where it is due, much of the content of this week’s thoughts comes from The Faith Once For All by Jack Cottrell. He has gone on to be with the Lord, but his faithfulness as a Bible scholar and teacher has had a profound impact on many, and I am thankful for his contribution.
