Romans 8.1. There is therefore
now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. We walk
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. The apostle in chapter
7 of the book of Romans struggles with inward sin. and at the same
time rejoices in complete justification. He says, So then with the mind
I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of
sin. But then he goes right on to
say, There is therefore now no condemnation. What does this
mean? It simply means that believers
are in a state of conflict, but not in a state of condemnation. When the conflict is the hottest,
the believer is still justified. When the believer has to do his
utmost even to hold his ground, when he feels that he cannot
advance an inch without fighting for it, when he has to cry out
in agony of his spirit because of the vehemence of temptation,
O wretched man that I am, he may still lay his hand upon the
Word of God and say, And yet there is no condemnation to me,
for I am in Christ Jesus. It is this experience which puzzles
the very people who are the subject of it. With all my watching and
warring, with all my fears and trembling, yet I will rejoice
in the Lord even now, for there is therefore now no condemnation
to them which are in Christ Jesus. It is the great and merciful
design of the Gospel to acquaint elect sinners who were guilty
and condemned by the holy law of God and given over to justice
to carry out the sentence of condemnation as to how they have
been pardoned and justified. The elect sinner cannot be happy
until he has some evidence, some proof of his being pardoned and
made righteous. And it is the Gospel alone, in
the power of the Holy Spirit, that tells him of his pardon
and justification, and thus he has peace with God. This Gospel
must be confirmed constantly, for it would seem that elect
sinners, because of inward struggle with sin and outward circumstances,
do continually doubt their acquittal. The terror of condemnation is
unspeakable when understanding it. When you understand what
it means to be under the condemnation of God, it is unspeakable. And upon learning its meaning,
we plead with David, enter not into judgment with thy servant."
Condemnation. The word in the Greek means this,
a sentence pronounced with a suggestion of the punishment to follow. Did you get that? Condemnation
means this, a sentence pronounced with a suggestion of the punishment
to follow. The decision reached. A decision
reached from an investigation and now sentencing is expected. That's condemnation. Condemnation. The process of judgment leading
to a decision. A sentence passed. This is condemnation. A sentence passed on the faults
of others due to an investigation. Are you beginning to understand
what condemnation is? Condemnation then is the sentence
dooming to everlasting punishment those investigated by the law
and a resulting sentencing by that law and the sentence carried
out by justice. The investigation that brings
about condemnation will bring the guilty to a final separation
from God. Depart from me, ye cursed, into
everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Condemnation then means separation. It means to depart This meaning
the loss of God's favor and God's presence and God's glory. Condemnation means departure
from God, the God who made us. Condemnation means separation
from the Redeemer who was slighted and despised and rejected of
men. Condemnation means to depart
from the Holy Ghost who stove with men and did strive with
men. Condemnation means to see the
face of God no more. Condemnation means to be cut
off from all hope and possibility of salvation forever. Condemnation means to be cast
into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Condemnation means thrown into
the black hole of outer bottomless darkness. Condemnation means
eternal companionship with the devil and his angels. All the greatness of this misery
condemned to this everlasting companionship. Condemnation means
God's law is against me. Condemnation is the damnatory
sentence of the law. There comes a day of judgment. There comes a day of judgment. There is a coming day of judgment. God hath appointed a day in which
He will judge the world in righteousness. 2 Thessalonians 1.8 says, He
shall come in flaming fire, taking vengeance on all them that know
not God and obey not the gospel. There comes a day of full and
final sentencing. And it shall be pronounced by
the judge upon the throne in the audience of the entire world. A sentencing shall take place,
and justice shall put men into their everlasting estate. John 5, 39, They that have done
evil shall arise to the resurrection of damnation. It is appointed
unto man once to die, and after this the judgment. But there
is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Let us now go to the high court
of heaven. It's the last day that court
shall ever be in session. As we enter the great judgment
hall on judgment day, There is one who sits upon the bench as
judge, who cannot but know what is right, and so he cannot but
do what is just. His name is El Shaddai, Almighty
God. There are two prosecuting attorneys
in the courtroom, a Mr. Law and a Mr. Justice. Both seem most stern and serious. There is a defense attorney named
Mr. Advocate who shall plead the
case, who shall seek the presence and hearing of the Judge El Shaddai
in this eternal case on the behalf of a great host of accused and
charged ones. He seems most confident, this
Mr. Advocate, and his face does shine
as the sun and his raiment as white as the snow. I am told
that Mr. Advocate voluntarily came alongside
the great number of accused ones to aid and comfort them in their
day in the High Court of Heaven. I have also been told that he
has been standing by as each one made their way through life's
twisted pathway to court day. And as they registered with the
High Court for trial. Mr. Advocate greets each one
of them with a warm embrace and a welcome. I must say that I
have noticed that Mr. Advocate has awful scars in both
his hands and upon his brow. But we must not tarry here too
long, for court will soon be in session. The star witness
for the prosecution is one Mr. Lucifer. Aelius the great dragon,
the old serpent, the devil, and he's sometimes known as Satan. He is the accuser of those accused,
of whom Mr. Advocate is not ashamed to call
his brethren. Lucifer has been accusing these
brethren of Mr. Advocate for thousands of years,
and he has been doing it before the very judge in this case,
El Shaddai day and night. Now I want to introduce you to
the many accused. What a group this is. I see a
fine-dressed lady in purple, and she keeps saying, he opened
my heart down by the riverside. I smell the stench of a man who's
dirty and unshaven, who has scars in both his hands. similar to
that of the defense attorney, Mr. Advocate. He repeats over
and over, Oh, what a wonder that he saved me. He said to me as
I hung on the cross beside him, Today thou shalt be with me in
paradise. There's a little short man who
keeps talking about one who looked a lot like Mr. Advocate, only
without the scars, visiting his house after calling him down
from a sycamore tree. There are former whores, one
in particular, who's constantly giving witness. I was caught
in the very act of adultery by the elders of religion. They
took me and threw me down at his feet. They would have stoned
me, but he identified with me and stooped down to where I was. And he said, you that are without
sin, cast the first stone. And he wrote something in the
sand. And then he asked me, where are
all of your accusers? I said, I have none. And he said,
neither do I condemn thee. Go and sin no more. How Mr. Advocate will defend all of these,
I do not know. But we must not stop now, for
court is being called into session. Mr. Gabriel cries, hear ye, hear
ye. The High Court of Heaven is now
in session. The Honorable El Shaddai presiding. Judge El Shaddai speaks. Mr. Law, Mr. Justice, you may call
your first witness. Mr. Law stands and calls one
Lucifer to the stand. Mr. Lucifer, are you acquainted
with all of these accused? Mr. Lucifer answered, I'm acquainted
with every one of them. I've been in their homes. I've
been in their cars. I've been in their bars. I have
an intimate knowledge of all these people. In fact, they were
all friends of mine at one time. We all worked together. And they
walked according to my dictates. They reveled in the lusts of
their own flesh and fulfilled every desire of the flesh and
of the mind. And, oh yes, they are guilty
as I. And by nature they deserve wrath,
El Shaddai." Mr. Law says, I have no further questions
for this witness, Your Honor. El Shaddai. looks at Mr. Advocate and says, my son, do
you have any questions for this witness? Did he say my son? Yes, my father, Mr. Advocate replies. Did he say
my father? Mr. Advocate asks Lucifer, isn't
it true Lucifer is a rebel and a liar? Isn't it true that you
tried your best to kill the judge in this very case, El Shaddai
and his holy son? Mr. Lucifer, isn't it true that
you were thrown out of heaven and Myrmids with you for insurrection?"
Lucifer answers, well, yes, I purposed to ascend into heaven and exalt
my throne above the stars of God. I said I would sit upon
the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north. I
wanted to be like the Most High, and I would have accomplished
my purpose had not El Shaddai been sovereign. Why, none can
stay His hand, nor say unto Him, What doest Thou? I was brought
down to the pit, to the sides of the pit. Mr. Advocate asked,
Mr. Lucifer, Isn't it true that you
yourself have been tried and convicted of high treason? And
isn't it also true that you have already been sentenced to eternal
hell, and at this very moment are shackled in chains in this
courtroom? Damn you! That's true! But count on this! If El Shaddai or his son ever
grow weak, I'll be back. Mr. Advocate Speaks, Lucifer,
you testified as to these accused that you knew all of these people,
that they were all with you at one time. But isn't it true,
Lucifer, that something happened to them and they, for some strange
reasons, would get sick every time you and they got together? Isn't it true that they no longer
wanted to go where you were. And they no longer wanted to
do what you did. Isn't it true that they sickened
of your company? Isn't that true, Mr. Lucifer?
Mr. Lucifer answers, well, yes, and
I know why the Spirit of the Most High came upon them in life-giving
power and threw me out of them so they could not do the things
they once did. And the grace of God kept on
teaching them to deny ungodliness and worldly lust and to live
soberly and righteously in this present evil world. Mr. Advocate charges the witness
stand, and you, Lucifer, accuse my brethren – did he say my brethren? – day and night. But isn't it
true that an investigation, Mr. Lucifer, has been made by the
most holy and reliable sources, and not a thing turned up except
a positive righteousness. Isn't it true, Mr. Lucifer, that
a search warrant was issued by El Saddai and served by Mr. Law and Mr. Justice? A search
actually took place for their sins on earth, in the heavenlies,
and in hell itself. and their sins could not be found.
Isn't that true, Mr. Lucifer? Lucifer cries out something like
this. Search again. I was with them. I promoted them. I encouraged them in their sins.
I know they committed their sins. They're somewhere. I know they're
somewhere. Mr. Advocate speaks. One last
question, Mr. Lucifer. Where did you get that
terrible scar that leads us to believe your head may have been
crushed at one time? Lucifer now is visibly shaken
and refuses to answer. El Shaddai calls for Gabriel
to help the weak and failing Lucifer down from the witness
stand. I must say, Lucifer may have been a son of the morning,
but whoever put that scar on his head made his son to set. El Shaddai speaks to the prosecutors. You may call your next witness.
A strange thing happens in the courtroom. Mr. Justice calls Mr. Law to the stand. Mr. Justice begins to speak. Now,
Mr. Law, isn't it true that you require
perfect, unsinning obedience in thought, Word and deed. Isn't that true, Mr. Law? And
isn't it true that sin is the transgression of the law? Isn't
that true? And isn't it also true, Mr. Law,
that these accused have all sinned and come short of the righteousness
demanded by the law and are worthy of condemnation? Isn't that true? Mr. Law answers, yes, Mr. Justice, and the Honorable L.
Shaddai will agree, the accused not only have not come up with
the perfect righteousness demanded, but at best all their righteousnesses
are as filthy rags. In fact, I have 14 indictments
against them here in my hand. Number one, none of them are
righteous. None of them are truthful. None
of them are upright. No, not a one. None of them understood. Not a one of them intelligently
discerned and comprehended. They were ignorant, willfully. Not a one of them, number three,
has sought God by his own dead will. El Shaddai, you know that. They talk a lot about their free
will. But not a one of them, when their will was unquickened,
sought you. You know that El Shaddai. They
are all gone out of the way of righteousness. There is not a one of them that
is profitable in and of themselves. They are worthless dung, and
you know that, El Shaddai. Not a one of them would do good.
They talk about being pretty good, real good, not as bad as
others, but they're all liars. And besides that, real good,
pretty good, is not what you demand, El Shaddai. You demand
a perfect righteousness. They have never heard me make
mention, El Shaddai, they've never heard me, Mr. Law, ever
make mention of a partial obedience. I have never said, keep five
of the ten. Nor have I said anything of sincere
obedience. There is nothing in me, Mr. Law, about sincere obedience. Not a word. I have never even
hinted, even hinted at such a thing as sincere obedience. I demand perfect, unsinning obedience. I'm the law. The law demands
perfection. That's what I demand. an absolute
conformity to the law in thought, in word, and in deed. I demand that these folks be
perfect inside and out. I know no righteousness save
that which is perfect. In all their throat, their throat
gives vent to what's in their heart. Their throat is an open
suffocator with the stench of death. A yawning grave. They use their
tongues to deceive their liars and manipulators. They mislead
the very people they claim to love. They deal treacherously behind
the scenes. I know them. I'm Mr. Law. The
poison of snakes is under their lips. Their mouth is full of
cursing and bitterness. Oh, they're angry. And their feet are swift to shed
blood. They hate and despise and would kill. Destruction everywhere. Destruction. Everywhere, destruction
and misery are in their way. That's what they go about doing. They have no experience of the
way of peace. They know nothing about peace.
For a peaceful way, they do not even recognize there is no reverence
of God before their eyes. They do not reverence God. Oh,
they talk about you, El Shaddai. They mention your word. They
even curse with your name. But there is no fear of you in
their eyes, no reverence. Mr. Law continues, I speak as
an authority. It's evident that all the accused
have sinned and are transgressors and are worthy of condemnation. I cannot, I will not pass by
a single sin because I'm Mr. Law. Mr. Justice asks, are you saying,
Mr. Law, that with willful intent
the accused broke the law? Mr. Law answers, most certainly,
because when they knew God, when they recognized Him as God, they
did not honor nor glorify Him as God, nor give Him thanks,
but instead became futile and godless in their thinking and
vain imaginations Their foolish reasoning was with imaginings
and vain delusions and stupid speculations. Their senseless
minds were darkened. And they made themselves totem
poles and bowed down before it. Mr. Justice then asked, Mr. Law,
what is it that you ask of the court? Mr. Law answers, I demand that every
one of these accused shut their mouth and plead guilty before
El Shaddai. That's what I demand. Their deeds
has in no way justified them. Their tears of sorrow for the
past will not satisfy me. nor their Reformation or New
Year's resolutions. I am not satisfied or pleased
with their resolution." I told them, it's do this or
you shall surely die. And they're cursed because they
did not continue in all things to do the law. What I think we
have going on here is condemnation with a suggestion of punishment
to follow. Your Honor, I have no further
questions of this witness, says Mr. Justice. My son, the advocate,
do you have any questions of this witness for the defense?
Did he say my son? Yes, my father. Did he say my
father? Could it be that right here in
the high court of heaven we have a holy conspiracy going on? Do you think the judge and Mr. Advocate may know one another
behind the scenes? Mr. Law says, Mr. Advocate, you never attempted
to make the accused what they should be, did you? And isn't it true that you, Mr.
Law, could not do it or you were weak through or because of the
flesh of the accused? In other words, Mr. Law, you
said thou shalt not, and because of the weakness of their flesh,
they did what you said thou shalt not, and you never attempted
to aid them or help them. Now, I realize that the failure
is not your fault, Mr. Law. You were on their conscience,
and the accused were well aware of your principle of do this
and you shall be rewarded, do that and you shall be punished. We all know what you've said
and it must be enforced. The accused must produce a perfect
righteousness. If not, the soul that sinneth,
it shall surely die. We all agree in this court that
the law is unalterable and that the accused has broken the law.
But let us suppose that some infinitely perfect act of obedience
should be paid in the sinner's stead, and the law magnified
and made honorable. Would you be satisfied then,
Mr. Law?" Mr. Law answers, well, most certainly. If there could be found an act
of obedience to the law, a keeping and fulfilling of the law, If
there were someone who could answer all my demands which I
have made upon the accused on their behalf, then I, Mr. Law, can be satisfied. Mr. Law, are you aware of the
meaning Jehovah-Jireh, says Mr. Advocate? Mr. Law answers, yes, yes, I am aware
of that term, Jehovah-Jireh. It means the Lord will provide. Mr. Advocate asks, Mr. Law, are you aware of any such
provision being made on the behalf of the accused ones by El Shaddai? Mr. Law answers, well, yes, I
know that what I could not do Because of the weakness of the
flesh of the accused, God sent His own Son in the likeness of
sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh. Mr. Advocate replies, now Mr. Law,
you say what you could not do, God sent His own Son in the likeness
of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh. Is
that right, Mr. Law? Yes, that's correct, Mr.
Advocate. Well now, Mr. Law, Just where
did God send His Son? Mr. Advocate, God sent His Son
to earth. God sent His Son to Bethlehem. God sent His Son to Mount Calvary. He sent His Son down to the grave
and He was recalled from the grave to sit at His own right
hand where He makes intercession. And Mr. Law, why did he send
his son, asked Mr. Advocate. Well, Mr. Law replies,
to come up under the law, to keep every jot and every tittle
of the law, and to condemn sin, to destroy
sin, to make an end of sin. to put it away. Mr. Advocate asked, so the Son
of God did not come to be a lawgiver, but a Savior. Is that right,
Mr. Law? He did not come to spy out
the sins of these accused ones, but to deliver the accused ones
from the bondage of their sins. Is that right, Mr. Law? That is correct, Mr. Advocate. Yes, yes, says Mr. Law. He came down to do those
very things. He's a friend, you know, of publicans
and sinners. Mr. Advocate asks, with regard
to what he came to do, can you tell this court the name of the
Son of God? Mr. Law responds, most certainly. His name shall be called Jesus,
for he shall save his people from their sin. Mr. Advocate speaks. Now, now, Mr. Law, Mr. Law, you've already
testified that sin is the transgression of the law. Is that correct?
Yes, Mr. Law answers. That's correct.
So, Mr. Law, the accused are lawbreakers
and thus have not produced what you demanded, which is a perfect
obedience, an act of righteousness. Is that right? Mr. Law answers.
That is correct, Mr. Advocate. They have not produced
a perfect righteousness. Now, Mr. Law, getting back to
this matter of God sending His own Son to do what you, Mr. Law, could not do because of
the weakness of the accused flesh, isn't it true, by the obedience
of one, this Jesus, many have been made perfect? Isn't that
right? Mr. Advocate, Mr. Justice and I, says Mr. Law, we were discussing this
very matter before the trial began this morning. It would
seem that there is a number that no man can number out of every
kindred, tongue, and nation whose records show a positive righteousness. Somebody ought to be shouting
right now. even the righteousness of God's own Son that has been
imputed, accredited to their account. I've been told that
the Honorable El Shaddai has a book, and the names of these
people are actually recorded in that book. It's a mysterious
book. It's a book of antiquity. It's an old book. This mysterious book is known
in the heavenly circles as the Lamb's Book of Life. I've also
been told that it's a book that's so old, dating back before the
foundation of the world, and that the names were recorded
in there before El Shaddai ever flung the Milky Way into heaven.
My father, I have no further questions for this witness at
this time. Did he say my father? El Shaddai
says, Mr. Law, you may step down. Now, there's a rumor being circulated
in the serestal halls that all parties involved in this trial
are well aware of its outcome, with the exception of the accused.
who continually doubt their acquittal. After Mr. Law has brought the
accused in guilty and has condemned them, divine justice is bound
to inflict now the deserved pains and penalties upon them. Mr. Law now calls Mr. Justice
to the witness stand. Now, Mr. Justice, what is it
that you demand of transgressors of the law? Mr. Justice cries in a rough, harsh
voice, I demand execution, which would render satisfaction. I'll
settle for nothing less than complete propitiation for the
sins of the accused. It's the law. I could not sheath my sword until
I have inflicted the threatened curse or the accused breaking
the law, I must see the sentence of the law fully executed. Yes,
I was vindictive, full of wrath. I'm justice. Mr. Law says, now Mr. Justice, is
there anything that the accused could have done to deliver themselves? Could they have offered anything
to divine justice to maybe save themselves from the wages of
sin. Maybe if they said they were
sorry for their sin, and maybe if they wept and mourned bitterly,
Mr. Justice replies, this would have
been nothing more than an open confession of their guilt, an
acknowledgement of their deserving the penalty. Mr. Law says, now, Mr. Justice, isn't
it true that you in the past held hostage the accused because
they could not meet the ransom demands? Isn't that true? Mr. Justice replies, well, yes, at
that time they were held because they were transgressors of the
law, and the law is unalterable, and the law had sentenced them,
so I held them until the penalty could be inflicted upon them,
the penalty being the second death, outer darkness, eternal
hell. I held them. Mr. Law says, I have no further
questions of this witness, Your Honor. El Shaddai says, my son,
do you have any questions for Mr. Justice? Did he say, my son? Yes, my father. Did he say, my
father? Mr. Justice, says Mr. Advocate, I am so very much aware
that the accused could not remit the deserved punishment. But
let's suppose there was some infinitely notorious suffering
that someone did undergo in the sinner's stead. in the sinner's
room. Let's suppose somebody took the
sinner's place. What if somebody answered all
the demands that law has made upon them? What if somebody suffered
justice in these folks' place? Would you let them go free? Mr. Justice answers, how could I
not be satisfied if there were a substitute who could come alongside
and, let's say, bear their sins and bear their guilt and bear
their punishment? But I must ask, if a man sinned
against the Lord, who shall cast himself down for him? 1 Samuel
2.25. Well, I know for a fact that
there was no help for the accused on earth. No creature in heaven
of the highest order of angels could deliver any one sinner
from his distress, much less a multitude like this, says Mr.
Justice. I think it could be said, says
Mr. Justice, of all of these people,
none I pitied them. Mr. Advocate asks, now Mr. Justice,
Have you ever been in love? Isn't it true that you were seen
kissing and embracing peace? And isn't it true that you, Mr.
Justice, ask me of daily complete satisfaction with peace? Who
is motherly toward these accused? Mr. Justice answers, oh, this
is true, Mr. Advocate. Mr. Advocate continues
probing. Now, Mr. Justice, isn't it true
that you are actually wed to peace? You and peace are married. Didn't this wedding take place
2,000 years ago outside Jerusalem on a mountain called Calvary? And isn't it also true that mercy
and truth were your witnesses at this wedding? And they were
spotted kissing also. Mr. Justice replies, yes, yes,
the four of us, mercy, truth, peace, and I, justice, we've
been in love for eons. And I, justice, first caught
peace's eye at the eternal council table. It was called the covenant of
love. And then we met again in the
Garden of Eden after the fall. We had a little party there.
We had a spat there. We left there somewhat downcast. But we met again at Bethlehem. And what a time that was. Yes, it's true. We're married.
We married in Calvary when the chastisement of their peace was
upon him. Mr. Advocate asks of Mr. Justice,
has there ever been a time since your marriage to Peace at Calvary
when you felt the need to put Peace away, divorce her, and
take up the sword of justice again? Mr. Justice speaks. Mr. Advocate, 2,000 years ago when
Peace and I were seen kissing It was our wedding day. Mr. Peacemaker had just consummated
the marriage ceremony and said, it is finished. I shall never
forget the rush of complete satisfaction that filled me. All my anger
was gone and my wrath was gone. There was nothing left but everlasting
satisfaction and righteousness. Mr. Advocate speaks. Now, Mr.
Justice, in your testimony before this court, when Mr. Law was
interrogating you, you said that you held the accused captive
as sentence lawbreakers. But now that the law and mercy
are wed, you and justice and peace are wed, it would seem
that you have no right to hold them. Mr. Justice speaks. Mr. Advocate,
strange you should ask such a question, for it was at the conclusion
of the wedding of peace and I, right after Mr. Peacemaker said,
it's finished, I heard a holy voice from heaven, much like
that of El Shaddai, the judge in this case, and he cried out
from heaven, deliver them from going down to the pit! I have
found a ransom! And I gave them all up, willingly,
justly, and righteously. Mr. Advocate speaks. My father,
I have no further questions for this witness. El Shaddai speaks. Mr. Law, Mr. Justice, you may
call your next witness. Mr. Law and Mr. Justice respond. Your Honor, we call to the stand
Miss Allak. Well, to the surprise of the
packed courthouse, Mr. Law and Mr. Justice seem intimate
friends with Miss Allak. They're kind of winking at her
as she takes the stand. Mr. Laurel begins the interrogation. Will you please state your full
name? Miss Elect responds humbly. My full name is Forenone Elect,
which means foreloved and chosen, but some call me sought out. Strange it seems, but Miss Elect
seems to have grown in boldness in this day of judgment for her.
I did hear her say, when asked during court recess by one of
the angelic beings, you seem so very sure when Mr. Advocate
takes the floor for your defense. Why is that, Miss Elect? Foreknown
answers. When love is with us, we have
boldness in the day of judgment. Because as He is, so are we. Perfect love has without fear. And I love Mr. Advocate because
he first loved me. Now let's see if Mr. Law and
Mr. Justice can shake her. Mr. Law says, now Ms. Allette,
or may I call you by your first name? Miselect answers, since
you and I have been the best of friends for over 2,000 years,
please call me by my first name, Forenone. Mr. Law begins, Forenone, isn't it
true that you came forth from the womb speaking lies? Isn't
it true, Forenone, that your navel was not cut? Neither were
you washed in water, nor were you powdered or clothed. No one
wanted you. Isn't that right? Forenone, none
eye pitied you. You were a loathed thing, and
you were tossed in the open field and lay there without strength
in your own blood. Isn't that true, Forenone, that
your growing up years were spent down in Lodibar? Isn't that where
you grew up, down there in the hood? that while there you wasted
all your substance with riotous living? And there were days without
number that you spent in the hog's pen in the mire, eating
the husk of hogs. Isn't that true, Fornone? Isn't
it true that you were engaged to one that was holy and spotless
and undefiled, and while being engaged to him, you went after
other lovers and played the whore? Isn't that true, Fornone? Isn't
it true that you on earth were spotted and blemished, and even
at one time you were referred to as a dead dog? Isn't that
true, foreknown?" Miss Elect answers with a smile
and a tear running down her glorified face. And she says, all that
you've said of me is true, Mr. Long. Mr. Law now yields to Mr. Justice, who asks of Ms. Allek,
foreknown, may I, like Mr. Law, call you by your first name?
And Ms. Allek answers, why certainly,
Justice. May I say what a wonderful wife,
woman your wife is. Peace, she passes all understanding. Mr. Justice continues, now foreknown,
isn't it your own confession that while on earth you did what
you did not allow? Isn't it true what you wanted
to do, you didn't do, and what you hated, that you did? Isn't
that true? Isn't it your very own confession
that in your flesh dwelt no good thing? Isn't that your confession?
That you were a wretched thing? For in own answers, Justice,
all that you've said of me while I was on earth is true. But even
then, though I was black, I was comely. Mr. Justice and Mr. Law with a smile
of satisfaction on their face say, Your Honor, we have no further
questions for this witness. El Shaddai speaks. My son, Mr.
Advocate, do you have any questions for my beloved Fornone? Did El Shaddai say, my beloved
Fornone? Did he say, my son? Mr. Advocate approaches the witness
stand and speaks to Fornone. And he reaches for her hand and
he holds it. And he says, as he speaks to
her, his words are full of affection and assurance. You are beautiful. You are fair, my love. There
is not a spot or blemish about you. I am so happy to have you
here with me where I am. I prayed for this day to come.
I want you to know that your winter is past, the rain is over
and gone, and it's now and forever a time of flowers and the singing
of birds. Mr. Advocate begins to question
foreknown. My love, my fair one, my dove, Strange in this courtroom, isn't
it? Mr. Lucifer, Mr. Law, and Mr. Justice have all made accusations
against you, which I would like you to give an answer. And I
know you have an answer for the hope that is within you, don't
you? Mr. Law brought up the fact that
from birth you were unclean, that your navel was not cut,
neither were you washed in water, nor were you powdered or clothed.
that you were cast in an open field and lay there in your own
blood without strength and unwanted. Do you have anything to say about
these charges? There's a holy hush that falls
over the courtroom. How shall foreknown rebuff the
charge? Foreknown speaks. My beloved
advocate, all that Mr. Law has said is true. With the
exception of none I pitied me. There was one beloved advocate
who passed by and looked upon me polluted in my blood and said
to me, live! It was a time of incredible love. He spread his skirt over me,
covered my nakedness. He swore to me that he would
never leave me nor forsake me. He said, You are mine. He washed
me thoroughly with water, washing away the bloods of sin from me. And He anointed me with oil.
He clothed me with bordered work and gave me walking shoes. He
gave me a belt of fine linen and covered me with silk and
dealt me with ornaments and bracelets and chains. And He put a jewel
on my forehead and earrings on my ears and a beautiful crown
on my head. I have no defense. for my sin
nature, I can only say there was one who loved me in spite
of my natural depravity and loved me enough to do something about
my condition. Mr. Advocate says, is this one
so full of graciousness in the courtroom today? And do you recognize
him? And do you know his voice? For
known speaks Yes, yes, I know his voice. He's the only one
my soul loves, and the voice of another I will not hear. Mr. Advocate speaks, Gornone, thou
fairest among women. Fairest among women? Mr. Law spoke of you being down in
Lodibar, living a riotous life, ending up in a pig pen, eating
husk. What do you have to say for yourself?
with regard to these accusations, Hornone speaks. I can only say
that Mr. Law's accusations were all true.
I was in Lodi Bar, a place of no bread, in the filth of swine. My soul was wasting away on husk
that the swine did eat and no man gave to me. But there was
an effectual summon. issued by one who loved me ere
I knew him, to fetch me out of Lodibar. He sent his own son
to my wilderness to speak comfortably to me. And he and I came out
of the wilderness together with me leaning on my beloved. I, the dead dog, lame on both
my feet, the husk eater, did sit at the king's table continually
as one of the king's daughters. Mr. Advocate speaks. If called
upon, could you point out the king and his son who fetched
you out of Lodibar? Oh, yes. I'll never forget that
day when he came to me. Oh, he came to me! When I could not come to him,
he came to me! I was on the dunghill down there,
scourging around, looking for a morsel, and He came to me. I could not come to Him, but
He came to me. Mr. Advocate speaks, Mr. Law
brought it to our attention that during your engagement you played
the part of a whore. You were not single-minded in
your love. There was not an exclusivity. to your love. Is that true of
you, Fornone? Fornone now is visibly shaken. Yes, yes, it's all true. I was
destroying myself, but the One to whom I was engaged would not
let me go. In Him was my help. He loved
me freely without a cause. He did betroth me to Himself
forever. He did betroth me unto Himself
in righteousness and in judgment, and in lovingkindness and in
mercy. He did betroth me unto Himself
in faithfulness, and now I know and love only Him. Mr. Advocate Speaks, now foreknown
sought-out elect, is your loving Hosea in this courtroom? Foreknown
speaks with great emotions. Precious Advocate, Blessed Intercessor,
Bread of Heaven, Water of Life, The Way, The Truth, The Life,
Author, Finisher, Alpha, Omega, Beginning and End, Wonderful,
Counselor, Prince of Peace, Lily of the Valley, Bride and Morning
Star, it is You! It is you. It was you who came to Bethlehem. It was you that came up under
the law. It was you that kept me. It was you that went to Calvary
and took the curse upon yourself, bearing my sins, satisfying justice. This court shall never find me
guilty, for there is no sin. For you, my Lord, made an end
of sin. You removed it as far as the
east is from the west. You are the fit man who carried
my sin into the wilderness. You are the Lamb of God that
taketh away the sin of the world. You are the one who said to me,
neither do I condemn thee who shall lay anything to the charge
of El Shaddai's elect. It is you, Mr. Advocate, who
is the Christ that died for me, yea, rather is risen again for
me, who also right now in this courtroom mediates for me. My attorney makes intercession
for me. You're the sacrificial lamb of
Exodus 14 without spot, whose blood was sprinkled on the two
sides of the door lintel. You're the ark of Noah's day
and all in that ark are safe from the watery wrath of judgment.
You are the shepherd who left the ninety and nine and sought
the one lost sheep until you found it, put it on your shoulders,
and brought it home. I ask you, Mr. Justice, do you
have any wrath to take out on me, or are you perfectly satisfied
with me, Miss Elect, poor known, Miss Sought Out? I ask of you,
Mr. Law, Have I done all required
of me in my representative, Mr. Advocate, my surety, my kinsman,
Redeemer? I ask of you, Mr. Justice, has
my debt been paid in full? Are you my friend now, Justice? And, Justice, are you now on
my side? I ask you, my Lord and Savior,
to own me now before El Shaddai." Mr. Advocate speaks. With lifted
hands he turns to El Shaddai and he says, Father, though I
and the children which Thou gavest me be for the foundation of the
world. What's happening here? What's
happening here? El Shaddai has left the judgment throne. The
Judge has left the judgment throne. He is approaching the witness.
Miss Alec with a holy white handkerchief in his large hands. What is this? Oh, he's wiping away all tears
from her eyes. Like a father would his darling
daughter. Now, Elshadai is speaking to
her. Let's listen. I want you to know, my little
Alec, that there shall be no more death
for you, neither sorrow nor crying, neither
shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed
away. I love you. I've always loved
you. You are mine. You will never
come into condemnation, nor will you ever experience separation
from my love." As El Shaddai makes his way back to the judgment
throne, a warm and comforting breeze blows through the courtroom. All is tranquil, for the Comforter
has come. Mr. Advocate draws near to Miss
Elect and says, the marriage of the Lamb has come. And I have already brought your
dress. It's made of fine linen, clean and white. And I've built
you a mansion. And I want you to spend eternity
with me where I am." And the heavenly choir begins
to sing. Amazing grace, how sweet the
sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, let's stand,
but now I'm found. Was blind, but now I see.