Will God Surprise in Missions: The Justified

Introduction

Last week we talked through some of these questions Paul ask. What shall we then say to these things? We briefly reviewed some of the high points in Romans and was reminded of all the benefit a believer receives when they come to faith in Christ.

Today we will pickup where we left off.

Let read the text.

Romans 8:31–34 KJV 1900

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? (33)

Is there any being in the universe whom must answer to above the creator?

It is like we are in the highest court of law court in the land and the persecuting attorney brings a charge against us and God is the judge.

And our defense attorney is there to defend.

The persecutor is there with his opening statement and bringing the charges against you....

And the Judge says, “wait a minute, this case is already tried and this one is justified.”

Once a person is justified there is nothing more that can be said.

You see, justification is what ever person needs and once they justified then there is nothing left be talk about.

To rehash anything after justification is to demand double justice, or double jeopardy .

In order for one to be justified who is guilty, they must have a righteousness that is not there own.

That is precisely what happens when a person comes to faith in Christ.

Christ’s righteousness is imputed to them and their unrighteousness is imputed to Christ.

We are not deserving of His righteousness and He is not deserving of our unrighteousness.

But, being declared justified we get what Jesus deserves and Jesus get what we deserve.

Do you see the cost that was rendered for your justification?

You see in this court, God is the judge and Jesus and the Holy Spirit are our defense attorneys.

Romans 8:34 KJV 1900

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Look at:

Romans 8:26 KJV 1900

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Isaiah 53:12 KJV 1900

12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, And he shall divide the spoil with the strong; Because he hath poured out his soul unto death: And he was numbered with the transgressors; And he bare the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

Listen to this:

Hebrews 7:25 KJV 1900

25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

The intercession that Jesus makes is able to save to the uttermost.

Uttermost means to a complete degree or to the full extent.

Justification is to the fullest extend of the law.

There is nothing left that needs to be brought to justice.

It is all satisfied.

Did you know that the believer is given the duty to be an intercessor?

Turn to:

1 Timothy 2:1 KJV 1900

1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

Do you know someone that needs you to intercede for them?

We have a list of ways to pray and to pray for all people.

We are to make supplications for them … prayers for them … intercessions for them … giving of thanks for them.

Supplication is make an earnest or urgent request to God.

Prayer is to make a request to God.

Intercession is a formal request for something to God for another person.

Giving of thanks is to express gratitude for someone to God.

Romans 8:34 KJV 1900

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Who is he that condemneth?

We have talked about a court of law and how that the believer has a intercessor who is our defense attorney.

This is no court room like we see here on earth.

This court room is a violent place.

It is a battle field.

Revelation 12:1–11 KJV 1900

1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

There is a lot here I do not understand but there have been volumes of books written using conjecture to explain all the elements here.

Who knows if any of it is right. I do not.

There is however, somethings I can understand especially is light of Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth?

This looks like this could be the court room I described earlier.

This is what intercession looks like.

Notice verse 10-11.

Revelation 12:10–11 KJV 1900

10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Salvation is what we are talking about in Romans, it is come.

At the end of this battle salvation is come and it is the power of Christ who won the battle.

What was the battle about?

It seems to me the battle was about one accusing our brothers and sisters in Christ and it goes on night and day.

Remember what Romans 8 26, 34 said?

The Holy Spirit and Jesus makes intercession for us.

This battle scene seems like there is an accuser trying to condemn those that God has justified and those that our intercessor died for.

The text says the accuser is cast down.

If the accuser is cast down, who is he the condemns?

Notice they were delivered by the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 12:11 KJV 1900

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

We know the Lamb to be Jesus who was crucified and shed his blood.

Notice further still, we have a definition of those who are brethren, those who we call believers.

It is a definition of salvation.

“They loved not there life unto death.”

This is what it means when you give your life to Christ.

This is what it means to be converted, you have given your life all the way to death.

It is a high cost.

You now live to honor the One who gave His life for yours.

Have you truly given your life to the LORD Jesus Christ?