Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 8:33-34.

 

“³³  Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;

 

³⁴  who is the one who condemns?  Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”  Romans 8:33-34.

 

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As an attorney, today’s Scripture reminds me of four parts of a criminal case (although you could break it down further): 

1.  The charge a/k/a complaint a/k/a indictment

2.  The trial

3.  The verdict or judgment

4.  The sentence  

 

Today’s Scripture and other Scripture reminds me of the sovereign rule of God over us:

1.  God elects those whom He will charge and those whom He does not charge.  He does not charge us.

2.  Christ is our Advocate, our Attorney who zealously intercedes for us and otherwise represents us.

3.  God is the one who renders judgment and justifies us, pronouncing us:  “Not Guilty!”. 

4.  Christ paid the price of the sentence for us.

 

We certainly understand that some of these parts of God’s sovereign rule overlap, such that God does not charge us, but rather God justifies us, because Christ paid the price of the sentence for us.  And, the Scripture for today also jumps around.

 

But, the message in today’s Scripture is intended to be a succinct summary of God’s sovereign rule.  God  rules “with an iron fist” throughout our case as the Prosecutor, Advocate, Judge, and Scapegoat (no legal term equivalent of which I am aware).

 

 

Our situation is not only that we were not charged.  Our situation is not only that we were found “Not Guilty!”  Our situation is not only that we were not punished.  In addition, God clothes us with the righteousness of Christ.  There is no legal term equivalent of that work either.  We can only imagine a Judge at the conclusion of the trial putting a robe of honor on a defendant.  (It didn’t quite happen in the Casey Anthony trial, did it?!)  But, God does so glorify us. 

 

 

“… He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  …”  Ephesians 1:4.

 

“and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans 8:30. 

 

“… Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”  Ephesians 5:25-27.

 

Isaiah 61:10
“I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

                               

^“He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
And your judgment as the noonday.’  Psalm 37:6. 

 

Proverbs 4:18
“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.”

 

Daniel 12:3
“Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”

 

Matthew 13:43
“Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.”