Romans 8:34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Hebrews 7:25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Think about the grace of our God and his good instruction. Blessed are those who worship him. Blessed are those who meditate on his law day and night. (Psalm 1) We have a Loving Father who creates us in his image and then communicates to us his true, beautiful, and wise counsel. What grace! What blessing!
However, consider our rebellious heads, hearts, and hands. As sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, we are “chips off the old block.” Like our first parents, we entertain the teaching of Lucifer, question our Father’s affection and wisdom, and turn away from his holy counsel. We are those who suppress the truth of God. (Romans 1). We are those sitting in the seat of scoffers and abandoning the fruitful path of blessing. (Psalm 1) We are foolish. We are devilish. We are damned.
Oh friends, lets not run from the subject of our sinfulness to quickly. Let’s meditate here for a minute. I promise you, this will make the Gospel even sweeter.
Consider the quantity of our transgressions. One sin is enough to merit divine-divorce, earthly death, and hellish excommunication. But we are not guilty of one sin; our list of iniquities is gigantic. From God, we have received two primary commandments. These are then presented to us through thousands of secondary applications. Our scriptures are full of them, and all of them are to be treated with the utmost seriousness. All God’s commandments and precepts are to be kept all the time. However, we keep none of them any of the time. We disobey God internally and externally. Knowingly and unknowingly, we break God’s commands by doing that which is wrong and not doing fully that which is right. Thousands of times a day we prove to not love God with all our heart, mind, and body. And as the days and years add up, our record bears witness that we are guilty of sins by the millions.
Consider our idolatry and addiction. How many times have we sworn off hellish habits only to practice them again and again? Instead of repenting and returning to the Fountain of Delight, we keep returning to idols which damage and never satisfy. We are like “dogs returning to our vomit.” (Proverbs 26:11) When will we ever learn? What’s wrong with us?
Additionally, think about the advancement or progression of our transgressions. As God removes his restraining hand and turns us over to the depravity we desire, we prove very willing to investigate wickedness, invent ways of rebelling, and gleefully dive deeper into the cesspool of sin. We are blown away, aren’t we? The stench and hideousness of our depravity is hard to stomach. Sin takes us father than we want to go, keeps us longer than we want to stay, and charges us more than we want to pay. Oh how we hope no one ever knows the full debauchery of our hearts, heads, and hands.
But now, let us rejoice!
Jesus’ Past Performance
Jesus knew all our sins — hidden and public. He knew all our transgressions – those we committed yesterday, those we are committing today, and those still to be practiced tomorrow. Nothing could be hidden from his sight. From eternity past, he saw us at our worst. He came into this situation with eyes wide opened. He fully knew the devilish hellions or spiritual harlots we would become. However, knowing our depravity, with radical affection he came our way. Jesus came to earth to identify, love, live, teach, heal, earn, be damned, die, and rise again. He came to earth to be our hope and salvation — to reconcile us to a holy God. He did it! How great has been the love of God the Father, Son, and Spirit for us devilish rebels!
But he is not finished with all his work. Consider the performance of Jesus Christ for us today.
Jesus’ Present Performance
Right now, Jesus is defending us. He is before the throne of God hearing the accusations of the accuser – Satan. Sure, he sees our holy-war and knows our weaknesses. He watches us “wretched men” not doing the good we want to do and still doing the evil we would not. (Romans 7) Sure, he hates sin with a white-hot passion. However, he has not condemnation and is only compassionate towards us. He has already become acquainted with all our sins, felt them on his back, and received the Judge’s holy hell. Jesus has already bore all our sins in his body on the cross; he died in our stead. All our transgressions — all of them — have been covered “under the blood” and put out of sight. And Christ Jesus, the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, is interceding for us. (Romans 8:34) Today, Jesus plays the role of our advocate, representative, counselor, or defense lawyer, and he is so good! The Judge quickly dismisses the charges of our devilish accuser. Because of the Son, the Judge declares all our crimes have been paid for. He declares all our sins have been forgotten, for he is the God of love who keeps no record of wrongs. (1 Corinthians 13). All our files have been thrown behind his back into the sea of forgetfulness. (Micah 7:19). In addition, as the Judge looks our way, he likes what he sees. He applauds and commends us as saints because we have been completely clothed in the righteousness of his beloved Son. Yes, how fantastic it is that Christ is in glory, before the throne of God, still interceding for us.
Right now, Jesus is comforting us. John tells us not to deny our ongoing struggle with sin. If any person says he does not sin, he is lying. But John also tells us to confess our sin, and when we do we can experience fresh forgiveness. (1 John 1). Yes, all our sins have already been paid for and forgiven. However, a fresh washing and renewing by the Spirit is possible for us weary in our wavering. He saves to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25). Jesus freshly cleanses us as we talk to him and he talks to the Father. Gospel grace is available and to be freshly received each and every day. Go ahead, take another Gospel bath.
Right now, Jesus is supplicating for us. He knows the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. He is well-aware that Satan wishes to sift us like wheat. (Luke 22) And so the Lord prays the Lord’s Prayer. In heaven, our Best Friend calls us, “Our Father, in heaven, lead them not into temptation, but deliver them from evil.” (Matthew 6) And because his prayers are always answered, grace upon grace flows from the Father, through the Son, through the Spirit, into us as we learn to better worship.
Therefore, let us not be tricked by the devil, devilish men, or our devilish heart into keeping our distance.
We do not have a God who is angry with us because of our sin. We have a Father, Son, and Spirit who like us and are talking, communicating, and interceding for us. These three divine persons, they are our greatest fans. They are on our side. They never run out of grace, and they are cheering us on. So join in the conversation. Ask God to brightly reveal his good counsel or law. Let us request — even beg — for renewed affections that adore righteousness and loath wickedness. Then, let us walk in the Spirit (the prayer of faith) and trust him for his daily measure of spiritual fruit. And throughout today, as our sins come to mind, let us confess them quickly and get another shot of God’s Gospel grace. He never gets tired of washing his bride.
Yes friends, Jesus is still performing on our behalf. He is talking to the Father right now. Let’s join him.
Unfathomable Grace 