Six Vital Questions of Life—Part 3
Six Vital Questions of Life—Part 3
Originally published in issue 33 of Calvary Chapel Magazine
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? Romans 8:33a
Since I am in a place of public prominence, there are accusers who make charges against me. You expect that. When you are before the public, people will disagree with you and even hate you. I get my fan mail from them quite often, as they express their disagreements, including all kinds of lies about me. People who don’t really know me propagate these lies and then somehow use them against me.
Of course, the apostle Paul said, For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ (Galatians 1:10b); so, it doesn’t really bother me. This just proves that I’m on the right track in serving the Lord. I know that when I express an opinion, some will disagree with it. Even if I were perfect—which I’m not—there would still be people making charges against me.
Jesus said, “The servant is not greater than his lord” (John 13:16b, KJV). So I look at Jesus: As perfect as He was here on earth, they slandered Him and even crucified Him. Today it continues. People still say horrible things against Jesus. If Jesus appeared on the scene today and began to come against the religious orders as He did in His day, I would not be surprised if they crucified Him again. And here He is—perfect—yet they charged Him with all kinds of spurious things.
Though people might charge me with different things, I know there’s One who is not laying any charge against me, and that’s God. I take comfort in that. Who then is bringing charges against you?
In Revelation 12:10, John heard a loud voice from heaven saying, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of [His Messiah]: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night (Revelation 12:10 KJV).
Who brings charges? Satan!
In the book of Job, we find Satan acting as the accuser of the brethren. In Job 1, beginning with verse 6, we read, Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:6-8).
God gave Satan an evaluation of Job. God in essence said, “He’s a perfect man. He loves Me. He hates evil.”
It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of you. He is the One who really counts.
So Satan answered the Lord, and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” (Job 1:9-11)
Satan accused Job of really being a mercenary. “He doesn’t really love You. He loves all the goodies that You give to him. Who wouldn’t love You, if You blessed him as You’ve blessed Job?” And so Satan accused Job before God.
Justified
It is God that justifieth. Romans 8:33b
Justifying you is the exact opposite of charging you. Justifying you dismisses the charges. God has declared that you are innocent. God has exonerated you from any charges that are made against you. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of you. He is the One who really counts. What does God think of you? His opinion is what is most important.
But how can God justify us? Jesus Christ took all of the charges that were once against us and paid the price so that we might be justified from those charges. [God] made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Many times our enemies lay charges against us—even our friends do. Certainly Satan likes to make charges, but it is wonderful to know that God is not laying any charges against us. It is God who has justified us.
The psalmist said, Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity (Psalm 32:2a). This means God does not have any list of charges against you. God does not put iniquity to the account of you who are in Christ Jesus, walking after the Spirit. If you stumble and fall, God doesn’t even keep a record of it. You are in Christ Jesus.
All verses above are quoted from the King James Version.
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