Fri 13 Mar, 2009
“The great conclusion to the suffering and death of Christ is this:
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). To be “in Christ” means to be in relationship to him by faith. Faith in Christ unites us to Christ so that his death becomes our death and his perfection becomes our perfection. Christ becomes our punishment (which we don’t have to bear) and our perfection (which we cannot perform). Faith is not the ground of our acceptance with God. Christ alone is. Faith unites us to Christ so that his righteousness is counted as ours. “We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16). Being “justified by faith” and being “justified . . . in Christ” (Galatians 2:17) are parallel terms. We are in Christ by faith, and therefore justified.”
Reflecting on this statement reminds me that what God did was total. Christ and what he accomplished is the basis for my acceptance by God. It was nothing I did. My faith, which is a gift from God, unites me with Christ so that my faith would be credited to me as righteousness. This again was God’s grace, not my actions. Christ’s suffering and death, justification, faith and grace are all inter-related. While the world may condemn us, they may even use brutal force as did the men and women who willingly were burned at the stake for their faith, by the ultimate judge has already said he will not condemn us. This reflection reminds me of a song we sing in church.
I will glory in My Redeemer
Words and Music by Steve and Vikki Cook
(of Sovereign Grace Ministries)
I will glory in my Redeemer
Whose priceless blood has ransomed me
Mine was the sin that drove the bitter nails
And hung Him on that judgment tree
I will glory in my Redeemer
Who crushed the power of sin and death
My only Savior before the Holy Judge
The Lamb Who is my righteousness
The Lamb Who is my righteousness
I will glory in my Redeemer
My life He bought, my love He owns
I have no longings for another
I’m satisfied in Him alone
I will glory in my Redeemer
His faithfulness my standing place
Though foes are mighty and rush upon me
My feet are firm, held by His grace
My feet are firm, held by His grace
I will glory in my Redeemer
Who carries me on eagle’s wings
He crowns my life with loving-kindness
His triumph song I’ll ever sing
I will glory in my Redeemer
Who waits for me at gates of gold
And when He calls me it will be paradise
His face forever to behold
His face forever to behold
His face forever to behold
Questions: Do you feel condemned by those around you? Have you considered that because of Christ’s suffering and death, if you are united to him in faith, you stand uncondemned before the only judge that matters? You have come face to face with God’s grace today. Have you responded in faith?
Quote from “The 50 Reasons Jesus Came to Die”.
Questions, emphasized text and reflections by me.
Picture – The cross at Mount Erebus, Antarctica, commemorating the 1979 Air New Zealand Crash near Mount Erebus.
