One Little Word: Justified

Romans 4:25

Picture the courtroom. You and I are the defendants, and we’re guilty. We know we’re guilty. The prosecuting attorney knows we’re guilty. Our defense attorney knows we’re guilty. The judge knows we’re guilty. Everybody knows we’re guilty. And now it’s sentencing time. We don’t even bother to lift up our heads. Why should we? We know we’re going away to jail and probably going away to jail for the rest of our lives because what we did was horrible. And with shock, we hear the judge say, “I declare the defendant to be innocent.” What? Innocent? Yes, you heard it right. And you walk out of the courtroom free. In that little parable, you and I are the defendants. God’s law is the prosecuting attorney. Jesus is our defense attorney. The father is the judge. And what does the judge declare about the defendants? The judge declares that the defendants are not guilty. Or even better, innocent. On what basis? On the basis of Jesus himself. That Jesus stepped into your shoes. Jesus lived for you. Jesus died for you. Jesus died for you. And most importantly, Jesus rose for you. Paul puts it this way. He was delivered over to death because of our sins. That’s a little better translation of the Greek. And was raised to life because of our justification. In other words, Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is God the Father, gaveling the judge saying, “It’s settled. The defendants are innocent because Jesus took their place.” And that one little word fells the devil. Amen.