I’m going to let you in on a little secret, I love courtroom dramas. Courtroom movies like The Firm, The Client, and A Few Good Men, come to mind. Go ahead and say it I know you want to …”You can’t handle the truth!”
What makes a courtroom drama, a drama? Is it the personal connection we feel with the defendant? Perhaps it is the prosecution’s mountain of evidence, a DNA sample or a surprise witness? I always like it when the attorney says triumphantly to the judge, “Your honor, I rest my case.”
I have been in church all my life, and a follower of Christ since the tender age of 9 years old. I know that while Jesus was here on earth he preformed miracles, and taught us to love one another. I know that he died a horrendous death on a cross for my sin and 3 days later he arose from the grave to fulfill prophecy so that one day, if we believe in Him, we can spend eternity in heaven. I know that one day we will all stand before The Judge and give an account for our life. I can tell you about what Jesus did 2,012 years ago and his impact on my eternity. But I have never considered the work Jesus does on my behalf even now, every single day.
Sunday’s sermon centered around that last sentence…and I can not stop thinking about it, even now at 2:00am Tuesday morning. (If you want to listen to this sermon go to www.radfordbaptist.com and click on the Resource then RBC Sermons. This sermon is not posted yet, but I’m sure it will be soon.) As our Pastor was sharing on Sunday, I couldn’t help but think of this as the ultimate courtroom drama.
Every single day, court comes to order involving me (and you). Every single day, the prosecution aka Satan goes before The Judge, God and accuses me of my sin. He is the ultimate prosecutor. He has a mountain of evidence supporting his case. What is Satan’s case? He is trying to prove conclusively that I do not deserve to be called a child of God, that I don’t deserve to go to heaven. I’m not good enough, after all look at all the times I mess up. The thought of Satan going before God daily accusing me and “tattle-telling” on me was a new concept.
Praise God that Christ goes before the Father and Judge daily as my Defender! No matter what evidence Satan submits to the court, my Advocate has 3 crucial pieces of evidence; a witness, a book, and DNA. Not only does Jesus serve as my Defense Attorney, but He is also my surprise witness! Jesus goes before God daily and shows the Judge his nail-scared hands. Jesus tells the God, “See my hands, her sins are Paid-in-full!” He then submits to the court more evidence, this time it is a book called ‘The Lamb’s Book of Life’. The day I accepted Christ my name was permanently written God’s book. It can never, ever, ever (did you get that) ever be erased! Finally, Jesus submits to the court DNA evidence. Once I asked Christ into my heart, I became a new creation and the Holy Spirit took up residence in my soul. My spiritual DNA is encoded with heavenly peptides that read “Property of God-Forever.”
Here comes the best part. Jesus, my Defender says….”Your Honor, I rest my case.”
No matter how guilty I am, the bible says nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Everyday this courtroom drama occurs. As Believers, everyday, God looks at us and sees us as Redeemed or Justified….just as if our sins never happened. I am so thankful not just because of what Christ did on the cross 2000 years ago, but how he serves as my Defender every single day in heaven.
~April
P.S. For those who really want to dig a little deeper. Below is a copy of more detailed information I requested from my Pastor on this subject.
SATAN THE ACCUSER … JESUS OUR DEFENDER Where is Jesus right now today? … Answer… In God’s presence in heaven · Ephesians 1:20-21 … God raised Him from the dead and made Him sit at His right hand in the heavenly places far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named
Why does Jesus have to be in the presence of God? … Answer … for us ·Hebrews 9:24 … for Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands(temple) … a mere copy of the true one but into heaven itself … now to appear in the presence of God for us
Why do we need Jesus in God’s presence? … Answer … Satan brings to God charges, condemnations and accusations against us every day · Romans 8:31-39 … If God is for us who can be against us … who/Satan will bring a charge against God’s elect … who is the one who condemns … (all in attempt to separate us from God) · Revelation 12:10 … for the accuser/Satan of our brethren has been thrown down … he who accuses them before our God day and night … (bringing our sin before God so God will judge as he will be judged)
How does Jesus deal with our enemy who is making a case against us before God?Answer … Jesus is defending us, interceding for us, serving as our mediator, propitiation and our advocate endlessly representing us before God as Satan desires us to be judged for our sin and he wants us to separated from God · Romans 8:1 … there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ · Romans 8:31-39 … If God is for us who can be against us … who will bring a charge against God’s elect/who is the one who condemns- Satan … Christ Jesus is He who died who was raised who is at the right hand of God who also intercedes/pleads for us … (pleading there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ- even as they are guilty) … who will separate us from the love of Christ … (nothing)will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. · Revelation 12:10-11 … now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come … for the accuser/Satan of our brethren has been thrown down he who accuses them before our God day and night … and they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb … · I Timothy 2:5 for there is one God and one mediator also between God and men … the man Christ Jesus · I John 2:1-2 … my little children I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin and if anyone sins we have an Advocate with the Father … Jesus Christ the righteous … and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins Definition of Advocate/parakletos(Greek) … meaning, one who is summons to stand before a judge to plead/intercede the case on behalf of another being accused –John 20:27 … Jesus still has the nail prints in His hands and feet and the mark from the spear in His side as a proof and reminder God’s wrath was appeased and satisfied while He was on the cross … Definition of Propitiation/hilasmos(Greek) … meaning the appeasing of wrath and the pouring out of wrath in order to satisfy justice Why does Jesus have to be the One to defend us before God and why not someone else defend us?Answer … Jesus is the only one Worthy to defend us and appease God’s holy wrath on our sin · Revelation 5:9 … and they sang a new song … Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals … for You were slain … and You purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation … · Revelation 5:12 … Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing
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