Encouragements for our troubled times No. 05
COVID-19 Series | Date: 23 April 2020
The Elders and Deacons want to encourage the members and those who regularly meet with us through this weekly series of encouragement for our troubled times from the scriptures.
A message from your Pastor
Romans 8:33
"Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies."
In this passage, the Apostle is first addressing the condemnation of the world and Satan levelled at Christians. We live in a hostile world that is always ready to condemn us as being the worst of sinners and unfit to be called the Children of God and the devil is always near to accuse us. But sometimes the loudest and most hurtful accusations can come from ourselves. We can become downcast, doubting, about our standing in Christ because of some sin or failure or unworthy thoughts and behaviour. We start accusing ourselves and feeling so unworthy and this can turn into a deep depression about our standing. Now, this can happen at any time but especially at times like this, when we are isolated, separated from Christian friends and our spiritual guides.
To counter this Paul gives us two reasons why there is “no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:13).
Firstly because we are “God’s elect”. We did not choose Him nor do we choose ourselves and claim to be God’s elect. Nor do we claim to be worthy to be God’s elect standing on our own merits and good works. We are “God’s elect”, He chose us before the beginning of creation to be His before we had done any good or evil. We are “God’s elect”, chosen in Christ Jesus, in His merits and works. He loved us before we ever existed and set His love upon us. He made that covenant with His Son that ensured our redemption, justification and glorification (verse 30) that He, the Son will accomplish for us.
Secondly, because “it is God who justifies.” Now if we try to justify ourselves before God, as those do who are not in Christ Jesus, then this statement would condemn us outright. Only God can justify, that is, make us just before Him, just as if we had never sinned. But for those who are in Christ Jesus, this gives us absolute assurance that all condemnation is unfounded. We do not seek to justify ourselves. In fact, we readily admit that we are unworthy. But we stand before Him in the merits of Christ, in Christ’s finished, complete and perfect sacrifice for all our sins. We are in Christ Jesus and therefore God justifies us because there can be no condemnation that stands against us. Christ has taken all and paid for it all on Calvary.
Therefore neither Satan, the world, ourselves, not even God’s law can bring a charge against God’s elect. Yes, we are unworthy, but Christ is worthy and we stand before the Judge of all the world, safe in Him.