The Demand
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"Who is he that condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us!" (Romans 8:34
Paul had called for an accuser, if there was one, to come into court, and to lay anything to the charge of God's elect; but he found none. For though, as in the case of Jesus, no doubt many false witnesses may be found—yet their evidence would be so contradictory, that it could not be received. He now calls for the judge, and asks, 'Who will pass a sentence of condemnation?' God, the supreme judge, had justified. Jesus, the wondrous advocate and Counsellor, was in court. Boldly, therefore, with the utmost confidence, he asks, "Who is he that condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us!" (Romans 8:34).
The Demand: "Who is he that condemns?" The apostle, like some noble champion in the days of old, clad in full armour, and mounted on some noble war horse, rides into our midst, and, with his sword drawn, and his eyes flashing fire, he throws down his glove, and demands, 'Who will come forward to condemn God's elect?'
He looks up to heaven, and, with voice strong and powerful, he cries, until the eternal arches ring, "Who is he that condemns?" But in heaven profound silence reigns. There is no one to pronounce sentence there.
He looks down into the pit, and, throwing his voice into the depths of hell, asks, "Who is he that condemns?" The challenge echoes through all the profound abysses—but there is no voice, nor any to answer.
Again he lifts up his head, and looking over the earth, eastward, westward, northward, and southward, he shouts, "Who is he that condemns?" His voice travels with lightning speed, and dies away in the far off distances—but there is no reply. The universe is silent, for there is no voice, nor any to answer. Men have condemned and killed the just; they have put the Lord's people out of the synagogues, and thought they were doing God service when they killed them. Proud priests and prelates, cardinals and popes, kings and emperors, have done so; but it was illegal and unjust—God would not ratify or confirm their sentence—but summoned them to answer for such conduct before him.
Condemnation is most dreadful, if it is just, as it exposes one to the most tremendous losses, and inflicts the most terrible punishment. Once, we were all under condemnation, as violators of God's holy law, and were the children of wrath, even as others. The righteous law condemned us; the holy gospel condemned us; our own consciences condemned us; and God, who now justifies, condemned us. In ourselves—we still deserve condemnation; yet we need not fear it, because we are in Christ. For us he honoured God; for us he satisfied all the demands of the law; in us he has magnified the glorious grace of God; and in nothing does God get greater honour than in our complete, gratuitous, and irrevocable justification. Well, therefore, may we ask, "Who is he that condemns?" Let us pass from the challenge to notice—
The Foundation on Which it Rests. Who will condemn? Shall Christ, who died? He is appointed to judge the world in righteousness; to him every knee must bow, before him every fallen creature must stand; but will he condemn God's elect? Never!—he died for them! His death was the price he paid to ransom them, and effectually to reconcile them unto God. He was their atoning sacrifice, expiating their sins. For them he made an end of sin, and brought in everlasting righteousness. He is their propitiation, covering and concealing their sins from view, and becoming a meeting-place, where a pacified God and a believing sinner can meet in harmony and peace, loving and blessing each other.
As our ransom price, atoning sacrifice, and propitiation, he procured for us a perfect pardon; for we have redemption in his blood, even the forgiveness of our sins. He obtained our sanctification, separating us from the unclean, and setting us apart for God; as we read, "Wherefore Jesus, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate." This was according to our Father's will, as it is testified, "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once." This sanctification secured the removing from us every spot, stain, and charge; therefore we read again, "Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Again: "By one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified."
He perfectly atoned for all their sins, and provided a righteousness which will perfectly and forever justify their persons. If, then, Christ died for his people, as their ransom, atoning sacrifice, and propitiation; if, by so doing, he procured their pardon, reconciliation, sanctification, and perfection—will he, can he condemn them? "Who is he that condemns?"
Shall Christ, who not only died, "but is risen again?" He died for their offences, and he was raised again for their justification. The resurrection of Jesus proves his Son ship, for he was gloriously demonstrated to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead; and his Son ship being proved, all his claims must be allowed, and the truth of all he testified is made clear. His resurrection proves the perfection and acceptance of his work, manifests his victory over death, and testifies his discharge from all obligation on our account. If, therefore, Jesus not only died for his people's sins—but is raised from the dead; and if his resurrection proved his divine Son ship, the acceptance of his work as his people's substitute, his victory over death, and the discharge of all the obligations he undertook for them in the everlasting covenant—then how can he condemn them? If he had been detained in the grave, the proof of the perfection of his work would have been lacking, and then, perhaps, there might have been found some cause of condemnation; but says the apostle, "Christ died, yes rather, he is risen again!" Therefore we ask, "Who is he that condemns."
Shall Christ, who is gone into heaven for us, and "is even at the right handoff God?" Jesus, having finished his work, having discharged the bond he had given in the covenant, having pleased and satisfied his Father, having completed his victory over all our foes, ascended up on high and entered heaven, there to appear in the presence of God for us. He is now at the right hand of God, far above all principalities and powers, and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world—but also in that which is to come. He is there associated with the Father in power, dignity, and authority. All power in heaven and in earth is given unto him, to employ for his people. In regal dignity and authority he is equal with his Father; and he rules and reigns to carry out the purposes of his love, to accomplish the will of his Father, and secure the everlasting happiness and honour of his people.
In heaven he sees all that transpires on earth, and frustrates the designs of every foe, fulfils every promise of his word, and prevents the condemnation of every one of his people. Christ in heaven secures the salvation of his people on earth. Christ, in heaven for us now, will prevent our condemnation at any future time. If Jesus has gone into heaven for us; and if he is, as the reward of his work, associated with his Father in power, dignity, and majesty—if he has finished his work, discharged his bond, pleased his Father, gained a complete victory over every foe, and opened the gates of heaven to all believers, will he condemn his elect, or will he allow anyone else finally to do so? "Who, then, is he that condemns?"
Shall Christ, "who makes intercession for us?" Blessed Redeemer! Not only did he die for his people—but he arose again; not only did he arise from the dead—but he ascended to heaven; nor did he only ascend to heaven—but he ever lives to intercede for them! He is ever employed for them! For them he presents himself, as their forerunner; for them he sprinkles his precious, speaking blood, before the throne; for them he opens his mouth and powerfully pleads.
Jesus intercedes for his people, as an advocate for his client, whose cause he is engaged to carry; as a brother for his brethren, whose interests he has espoused and lays to heart; as a husband for his bride, for whom he laid down his life, and whose love is wholly set upon her; as a head for the members of his body, which he cannot consent to part with—no, not the least of them.
For his whole Church and every member he intercedes—to obtain for them the choicest, richest blessings; to prevent the ills that would befall them, and the dangers into which otherwise they would fall; to answer every accuser and silence every foe; and that he may present them faultless before his Father's glorious presence!
Precious Lord Jesus! You intercede for transgressors even now that you are in your glory: on earth your Father always heard you, and now that you are in your glory you cannot plead in vain! If Jesus intercedes for his people, as their advocate, brother, husband, and head, he will not condemn them;—and it Jesus will not, who can? Who is he that condemns? Jesus died, that his people might never die; he arose, that his people might ever live; he has gone to heaven to prepare their places, and secure their safe arrival there; he also makes intercession for them, that, having once passed from death to life, they may never come into condemnation.
Am I a believer in Jesus, living upon Christ, and living for Christ? then am I one of God's elect. And if I am one of God's elect, then I may fearlessly ask, Who is he that condemns me? Condemn ME, for whom Jesus as my substitute was condemned! Condemn ME, for whom Jesus as my Saviour died, that I may never be condemned! No! For me there is no condemnation, for Jesus has paid the full penalty of my sins. God is honoured more in my salvation—than in the condemnation of all the lost! The law has had on my behalf all that it can require or receive. Grace is glorified much in my present state, and will be glorified more in my enjoyment of everlasting life. How, then, can I be condemned?
Every believer is in a justified state, and therefore his fears are groundless. What has he to fear, when Jesus and all he is is his? Whom has he to fear, when God is for him, and Jesus is identified with him? Whom will he have any reason to fear, seeing he is saved with an everlasting salvation, and God has pledged his word that he shall never be put to shame? God forbids him to fear; has removed all cause for fear; requires him to be strong and of good courage. Though weak as worms, though timid as doves, though in themselves all sinful and depraved, God says to each believer, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God!"
The attempts of all our foes to injure us shall be in vain, and therefore our hopes should be bright and our confidence strong. We cannot expect too much from God, after what he has given us. We cannot ask him to do too much for us, after what he has already done. Nor can we exercise too much confidence in God. With such great and glorious promises, all which are confirmed with the blood of his Son, we cannot be too confident in God. It is impossible for God to lie. His faithfulness is like the great mountains. He graciously made his promises, and he delights to fulfil them. Never are we so ready to receive—as our God is to give; and the only reason why he ever withholds anything from us is, because he loves us too well to indulge us to our injury. Jesus having conquered for us, will conquer in us. Our foes are his foes, and if they injure us—they injure him. Let us, then, rejoice in the near and precious union that exists between our souls and him; and let us expect the largest, richest blessings from him, and exercise the strongest possible confidence in him.
As Jesus died, arose, went to heaven, and ever pleads for us there, he should be the constant object of our faith, hope, and love. What a mercy, Jesus died for us! We are not half enough affected with this glorious fact! Jesus arose for us, having abolished death, and perfumed the grave for us. Jesus went to heaven for us, that we might have a friend to receive us when we go there ourselves; one whom we know, love, and long to see. Jesus ever pleads for us; how, then, can our cause fail or our enemies triumph?
Yes, the eye of faith should be fixed on Jesus, on Jesus always, on Jesus in every relation and every character in which he is revealed in the word; but more especially on Jesus as dying, rising, ascending, and living in heaven for us.
On him all our hopes should be built; and from him our hope should draw all its life and vigour. What! Will not the death, resurrection, and intercession of Jesus warrant me to hope for?
Jesus also should be the object of my love—a dying, risen, living Jesus. He loved me first. He loved me so much that he would die for me, if he might but have me for his own. Having made the purchase, he went into heaven to claim me. His eye and his heart are incessantly fixed upon me, nor will he ever be satisfied until he has me with him—holy as he is holy, happy as he is happy, and glorious as he is glorious.
O infinitely blessed One, I do love you—but not half enough! I do adore you—but not half enough! O that every thought were full of you! O that every talent were employed for you! O that every moment were taken up with you! Well, soon, and it may be very soon, this will be the case, to the praise of your glorious grace!
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