We have been summoned to God’s judicial system. We are in God’s court because we have violated divine law—just as we have already confessed—by our thoughts, words, and deeds—by what we have done and by what we have left undone. The summons we have received is pretty clear. As Paul writes earlier in Romans 3 “None is righteous, no, not one (3:10) and “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (3:23). Under God’s jurisdiction—which is the whole world—all are perpetrators because none of us have behaved, or lived our lives, perfectly. When we enter the courtroom, we see that God is our Judge. He already has reviewed all the evidence—the data, documentation, and the survelaince footage. Nothing we have done has escaped his notice. This Judge not only knows all the things we have done in secret, he also knows the thoughts and intentions of the human heart. Unlike our judicial system, the Judge is also the author of the law. He gave Moses the Ten Commandments: “You shall have no other Gods. You shall not take his name in vain. Remember the Sabbath day. Honor your parents. Don’t murder, commit adultery, steal, lie, or even desire what is not yours.” The Judge begins his deliberation by a disturbing announcement. We are all guilty. “No human being will be justified in his sight.” And perfect obedience to the Law is impossible. There is no innocence until proven guilty. So the Law clearly states that we are all lawbreakers.
But, it gets even worse. There is a prosecutor. And his name is the Accuser. He is there to make sure the Judge and those in the courtroom all hear about how hopeless you and I all are. The voice of the accuser can be heard audibly echoing down the halls of justice. The accuser’s voice is troubling because a lot of what he says is true. He tells us we are sinners. He tells us we have failed. And we have. But he also tells us lies—that we are worthless—that we are unloved—that we are beyond all hope—that there is no escape—that no one cares—that the Law has the final word about our dignity—that God has already given up on us. The accuser’s voice can be heard in any religious system that tells us that we can purchase God’s love if we just do enough to satisfy his demands. His lies can be heard in any message that says we must earn or deserve forgiveness and a fresh start. The accuser’s voice can even be heard in our own conciences—that voice in our own heads that says, “Try harder and you might be loved. Give more and do more and it may be enough.”
Thank God for our Advocate, the defensive attorney! He is not only our Advocate but also the Judge’s Son. He is the eternal Son of God—and he not only shares the Judge’s divinity but our humanity. And yet, he has done what no other human has ever done—he has perfectly obeyed the Law. And he comes to court already with a treasure trove of good deeds. He has gone beyond the requirements of the Law and outperformed the Law’s demands. He has loved God, his Father with his whole being. He has loved his neighbor with the ultimate price—his very life. On the cross of Calvary, the Advocate Jesus has silenced the accuser—the prosecuter who would have us pay the full price for all of our wrongdoings. And by Christ’s death on the cross, he has paid the full debt all our sins. And so, when the Advocate speaks in the courtroom, he is speaking with truth, authority, and love. He has cried out, “It is finished—paid in full.” “Although this child has sinned and broken all of God’s commands, there is now no condemnation.” There is something greater than the Law and all its demands—that is the righteousness of God—the positive love, acceptance, and forgiveness that comes through his Son, Jesus Christ.
The Advocate has made his plea before the Judge on our behalf. He has officially made his case that we should leave the courtroom free of guilt with full assurance of forgiveness and eternal life. All of this is for free. The Advocate’s work for us is pro bono. The only thing that remains is for us to trust his plea for our mercy. The paperwork has been filled out. Everything is in order. The accuser is silenced. His objections and accusations are out of order and are being ignored. The Judge lifts his eyebrows and betrays his impartial love for you and me with a smile. It turns out that the Judge was on our side all along.
What else needs to be done? Do we need to try harder to earn the Judge’s approval? No, it has already has been earned by his Son, our Advocate. Do we need to do perform great acts of kindness to deserve or purchase his love? No, it has already been accomplished by his Son, Jesus Christ. This is the great message of the Reformation—that we are justified by grace through faith. It is free. And we only need trust in Jesus. We only need believe God’s declaration that we are righteous, forgiven, and free from condemnation. It is unlike any judicial system we see on earth. If we had to earn God’s love through obedience, our lives would be a never-ending pursuit of the unattainable. But it has been earned by Jesus and delivered to us for free. Our lives are now a never-ending song of praise. Our good works flow out of hearts of thanksgiving—not to sway the opinion of the Judge—but to show our gratitude for his love and his Son.
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