TUESDAY April 16th
Romans 8:32-34
‘He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.’
These verses are a continuation of what I already considered yesterday, that in Christ, that is of course as we remain in him, that we are eternally secure, for the One who died and who was raised for us, is also interceding for us at the right hand of God.
How can anyone or anything bring any accusation or charge against us that will have even the slightest chance of being upheld, when the One who died for and who was also raised for our justification stands in the presence of God? Well Paul says, nothing, nor no one, for it is God who justifies, and when he has declared the verdict ‘not guilty’, then it stands, it is final. The very presence of Jesus standing as the Lamb who has been slain in the presence of God is a constant and a permanent reminder (not that God needs reminding) that Christ has died and has risen, he has fulfilled what he came to do, therefore for all who come to a believing faith and trust in him, there is therefore now no condemnation.
I want us to read the words of the wonderful hymn by Charles Wesley who understood something of the wonder of this truth in Romans 8:34 that Christ is at the right hand of God interceding for us.
Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding Sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne my surety stands,
Before the throne my surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.
He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all-redeeming love, His precious blood to plead:
His blood atoned for all our race,
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.
Five bleeding wounds He bears, received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, oh, forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive him, oh, forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”
The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away the presence of His Son;
His Spirit answers to the blood,
His Spirit answers to the blood,
And tells me I am born of God.
My God is reconciled; His pard’ning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.