The courtroom is silent. Lawyers for the plaintiff and defendent have presented their cases. From the evidence it is plain to everyone that the defendent is guilty. Suddenly, the son of the victim comes forward and asks the judge if it is possible that he addresses the judge and jury. He asks for more than leniency for the defendent. Instead, out of compassion, he asks the judge to declare that he suffer the punishment and that the defendent go free. The crowd of witnesses, the jurors, and the judge are amazed and don’t understand the son’s reasoning. But the son remains a staunch advocate for the defendent and takes upon himself the discipline of the court.
Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Before a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ, he/she makes himself or herself an enemy of God by rejecting Him and living according to their own selfish desires. But once we trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, God removes the condemnation of our enemy status and we are declared not guilty, removing all condemnation from us and giving us peace with God. Jesus Christ offered Himself as the sacrifice to remove the condemnation as sinners from us and grant us salvation from the Father’s judgement of our sin.
Reluctant Retiree 