Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. The scripture is quite clear
that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. If
that's not enough, it is also quite clear that we are aware
of our own sin, even though we might like to cover it up. For
when the Gentiles which have not the law do by nature the
things contained in the law, these having not the law are
a law unto themselves, which show the work of the law written
in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their
thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another.
We were all actually born into sin and have inherited the nature
of the children of wrath handed down to us through Adam. On top
of that, we are not only guilty because of the transgression
of God's law in every point, but even those acts which men
might judge as kindness, decency, and morality, or even sincere
religious deeds, are in the sight of God as nothing but filthy
rags. So much so that the scripture declares there is none righteous,
no, not one. This is quite a daunting body
of evidence against us. Even our own conscience testifies
against us, and there is none of our sinful race that could
even plead our case, since they are each one as marred and guilty
as we, and must all appear before the judge of all the earth to
answer for the crimes each have committed. And as it is appointed
unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. Now, while
we are instructed that all men shall be raised from the grave,
We're also told that they do not all come forth for the same
reason or to the same end. And some shall come forth, they
that have done good, unto the resurrection of life, and they
that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. So
there is a resurrection of life and a resurrection of death.
The moralist would have us believe that those that have done good
is descriptive of men whose lives have been weighed and who have
been discovered to be the doers of good deeds, and on this basis
to enter into life. Yet the scripture plainly says
there is none that doeth good, and then adds for emphasis, no,
not one. So that cannot be the true description
of their goodness. In order for all men to stand
trial, they must come into the courtroom with either a body
of evidence that secures their everlasting doom, or a body of
evidence that declares their innocence and freedom from this
curse. Those who are brought forth to this awful bar of justice
in the body of death, in which they lived in this world and
committed their crimes against the law of God, come there not
as the living but as the dead, reanimated simply to stand trial.
No horror picture with numerous zombies milling about can even
begin to match the true horrors of this scene, as these men of
flesh are each one judged guilty of the crimes committed in these
bodies of evidence. Who among them can deny that
this judgment is just, or present one shred of righteousness which
can offset the crimes they have committed? Their bodies of evidence
have betrayed them, and those deeds done in the flesh have
overtaken them. Yet just as awful as this scene
is, complete with the shrieks, groans, and cries of those cast
into the lake of fire, there will also be at this same bar
those who come there not in bodies of death, but clothed in immortality
and a righteousness so pure as to sparkle in the reflected glory
of the one who has imputed his righteousness to them. They are
referred to in the scriptures as the elect, the chosen, the
sons of God, yea, even the bride of Christ. They are brought forth
to the resurrection of life, for they have been appointed
to life, and given that life by the one who is the firstfruits
of them that sleep. They possess this life as a result
of his quickening spirit that first visited them when they
were yet dead in trespasses and sins, that one who identified
himself as the way, the truth, and the life. He has appointed
them to life in the covenant of redemption established before
the foundation of the world. And now here at this judgment
bar, he is pleased to manifest them as those who have never
sinned, but are clothed in a perfect righteousness that puts to silence
any charge that could ever be brought against them. They stand
justified at this bar. So how came this to be so? And
how is it that men who by all rights should be destroyed are
found not only not guilty of their crimes, but come forth
in a pure body of evidence? One word is used to describe
it, grace. For who maketh thee to differ
from another, and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?
Yet the basis of their innocence in this court is not simply because
of their relation to Jesus Christ as his sons and appointed heirs,
even though their relation to him is as old as time, yea, even
before the foundation of the world. No, the very foundation
of their innocence before the Father is found in the fact that
Jesus Christ suffered in their behalf and paid their sin dead
in the flesh. and completely fulfill the law
in their behalf, in perfect obedience as their substitute. He has taken
away their sin in the flesh, in the body of His flesh, and
now they are clothed in His purity. How will you stand in the day
of judgment? If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.