A Day In Court


Psalm 51:4 captures the prayer of David once he has seen his sin, regarding his coveting and taking of Bathsheba, Uriah the Hittite's wife, followed by his sinful leadership actions that led to the death of Uriah in battle. (For Nathan's reveal of David's sin, read 2 Samuel 12). 

David thus prays to God:

"Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment."

David sees his sin as against God, thereby vindicating God in his righteous, justified, and blameless judgment. God is holy, good, just, and loving. The Law, and our consciences, testify against us that we simply are not holy, good, just, and loving. Certainly not all the time. Our sin is ultimately against God in His goodness, and it is degrading to our humanity. 

Imagine the creation of the universe. Genesis 1 tells us that God created the universe and humankind, and it was very good. We were created very good. But then, the Bible tells us in Genesis 3 that sin enters the world and warps everything. The whole of creation is warped, (think cancer, disease, natural disasters) and the human heart becomes warped. We want moral autonomy, we want to be our own gods, and we get it. We are banished from God's presence. 

The original creation of the world and humanity is like a still pond. It is perfect, harmonious, serene. We are perfect, existing in harmonious relationship with God and each other, and living in absolute serenity in the splendor of God's presence. 



Sin is like throwing a rock into that pond. It disrupts the perfection, the stillness, the rest, the harmony of the relationships with God and humanity, and the serenity of being in God's presence. And over time, sin multiplies and increases. This happens, over and over, in excruciating ways, in the creation and in our hearts, until we see the world around us as disfigured, and our ability to love God and love others is scorched earth. Things are chaos, things are messy, humans reject God (even against the testimony that is so plain to us). We hate, kill, steal, destroy, have war, oppress, marginalize, commit violence, gossip, envy, live for self, deny God, and have malice in our hearts. 

We all contribute to this disruption of peace, harmony, goodness, beauty, perfection, stillness, love, rest, and serenity because we all sin, constantly. Because of this, and because God is holy, good, and just, we are deserving of condemnation. We have accrued our deserved guilty sentence. The work of our hands has led to our condemnation.  

Romans 1:18 puts it this way: 
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth."

Romans 3:23 puts it this way:
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"

Jesus went so far as to take the Law, which reveals sin, all the way to the human heart:

Matthew 5:21–22

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire."

So, even our heart thoughts are condemning us, because they reveal our twisted nature!

Which leads us to life's big question: How can unholy sinners, deserving of condemnation, be right with God, declared innocent, justified?

If you look for the answer, anywhere else but the Bible, or in any other worldview than Christianity, the answer to this question lies in the self. We have to save ourselves by our works. 

Example #1: The American Dream says, "If I can work hard enough, catch a break or two, bust my butt, pull myself up by my own bootstraps, I can buy that house, have 6 pack abs, a gorgeous wife, perfect kids, a boat, a lake house, a four-wheeler, or whatever I want. I'll make it happen, and I'll find fulfillment in myself, by looking deeper into myself, digging deeper, and working harder." The Book of Ecclesiastes says this is vanity, and that this is not knowing God, whom we were made from and for, and whom we are to know and be known by.  

Example #2: Every other religion says, "Follow these rules, and God will accept you." Whether this is don't eat pork, be circumcised, follow these laws, pray the right prayers, or any other thing the answer still lies in the self. Every other religion apart from Christianity is settled in the self. In every other religion, the courtroom scene will be a peacock strutting of works. "Take my prayers, my good deeds, and pay me back for all I've done by giving me paradise!"

Religion says, "If I obey, I'm okay."

This means your religion is all about you. It leads us to be able to boast when we are "further along than others." It leads us to exclude and hate others who don't "follow our rules." 

The Bible plainly teaches that our sin is so bad, that we can't save ourselves. We need otherworldly, interrupting, supernatural, God-working-on-our-behalf, unmerited mercy! 

We find that help in the Son of God, sent into the world to save sinners, by dying on the cross. We receive that gift of grace by faith, which unites us to Christ. 

The Gospel says, "I'm okay in Jesus."

The Bible plainly teaches that we are accepted by God through faith in Jesus Christ. This is the classic doctrine called, "Justification by faith alone."

What does justification mean?
John Stott, p. 60, The Message of Galatians: 

"‘Justification’ is a legal term, borrowed from the law courts. It is the exact opposite of ‘condemnation.’ To condemn is to declare somebody guilty; to justify is to declare him not guilty, innocent or righteous. In the Bible it refers to God’s act of unmerited (undeserved) favor by which he puts a sinner right with Himself, not only pardoning or acquitting him, but accepting him and treating him as righteous."



God unites sinners to Jesus Christ by faith. Thus, God accepts sinners based on the merits of Jesus Christ. We don't bring our handful of works to the table, lay them down in front of God the Judge and say, "Look at all the good stuff I did, now you owe me!" As if we could pay God back. Rather, we go to God, with our heads bowed, and say, "Nothing of my own I bring, simply to thy cross I cling."

The way to be right with God is through faith in Jesus Christ. Only. That's it.

Jesus himself put it this way:

John 14:1–6

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Believe in God. Believe in Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to God except through Jesus Christ. This is an exclusive message that seeks to include all sinners! The gospel invites all sinners, of every tribe, tongue, and nation to repent and believe on Jesus to be saved!

Here are 3 quick reasons why God accepts sinners by faith, and not works:

1. Through faith, God gets the glory in salvation. We don't get the glory in salvation. 
2.  Justification by faith alone levels the playing field. All believers, every single person who is justified by faith in Christ, is saved by the blood of Jesus alone, and not their own merit. This means we are all equal at the foot of the cross, and paves the way for the unity, peace, and harmony of relationship yet again. 
3. Faith in Jesus Christ makes much of Jesus and gets us out of the way, allowing God to do marvelous work in our lives through the Holy Spirit. Faith trusts God. Faith is expectant of God, and guess what? God shows up. Always. 

What will your day in court look like?

When you stand before the Judge of all the earth will you claim your good works or Jesus Christ's blood, shed for you on the cross?

Will Romans 5:1 be true of you? "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Do you have this peace? Do you plead Jesus in the courtroom of the Judge?


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