Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

 Romans 8

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Romans 8:33

I pause my study of 1,2,3 John this morning to listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today highlights Romans 8:33 and how believers experience no condemnation by God (see also Romans 8:1).  We are as the devotional is so aptly entitled "Finally and Totally Justified." John Piper emphasizes how God is the one who justifies and because there is no higher authority on earth or in the heavens, this justification is complete and final.  This justification gives believers security in their salvation, as Piper describes "[t]he point: unshakable security in the face of tremendous suffering. If God is for us, no one can successfully be against us. If God gave his Son for us, he will give us everything that is good for us. If God is the one who justifies us, no charge against us can stand."  This security enables us to live with a boldness in our faith because we know that no matter what the world can throw at us, God saves and this cannot be taken from us. We should not worry what the world does to us because God saves. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are so good...I am SO grateful that You not only cleanse me from my sins but I am justified in Your eyes and so my salvation is secure.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

Hebrews 2

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Hebrews 2:14-15

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 11.  Here, John Piper unpacks Hebrews 2:14-15 as he describes the text as his "favorite Advent text because I don’t know any other that expresses so clearly the connection between the beginning and the end of Jesus’s earthly life — between the incarnation and crucifixion. These two verses make clear why Jesus came; namely, to die."  Piper then proceeds to go line-by-line with the text:

• “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood..."  In other words, in sending Christ, God has the salvation of his “children” especially in view." Those who believe in Christ become God's children and are adopted into His family.  We are referred to Isaiah 8:18, 53:10, John 3:16, 11:52, 1 Timothy 4:10, John 1:12.
• “ . . . he himself likewise partook of the same things [flesh and blood]...” > "Christ existed before before the incarnation" (since the beginning of time) but became the incarnate Son of God - fully man and fully human.
  
• “ . . . that through death...” > Christ came to die for us - and this could only be accomplished if He became fully human. "He was born to die. Good Friday is the purpose of Christmas. This is what most people today need to hear about the meaning of Christmas."
• “ . . . he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil...” > "In dying, Christ de-fanged the devil. How? By covering all our sin. This means that Satan has no legitimate grounds to accuse us before God." We are justified by God.  "Satan’s ultimate weapon against us is our own sin. If the death of Jesus takes it away, the chief weapon of the devil — the one mortal weapon that he has — is taken out of his hand." We are referred to Romans 8:33, 5:9.
  
• “ . . . and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” > "So, we are free from the fear of death. God has justified us. Satan cannot overturn that decree. And God means for our ultimate safety to have an immediate effect on our lives. He means for the happy ending to take away the slavery and fear of the Now." 

A great message indeed! What a great God we have that has done all of this for those who believe!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for coming for me, dying for me, and giving me victory over sin and death - the greatest gift of all time!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Psalm 51:1

As I continue my vacation in Maine, I maintain a pause on my studies of both Isaiah and Proverbs, and tonight and throughout my vacation I will use DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotionals - today's focuses on how David claimed hold to God's forgiveness and mercy, yet he was unaware that in His line there would be a path for Him to be "justified" and forgiven for sins through Jesus Christ. Key to understanding of this text in Psalms 51 is that David is seeking God's forgiveness after a colossal sin - adultery with Bathsheba (and subsequently conspiracy to murder her husband).  2 Samuel 12 chronicles how God sent Nathan to David to hold David accountable for this sin.  We all have these moments when we cry to God in the midst of shame and guilt - we have an incredible God who forgives sins. 

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My Prayer: Jesus, thank You for Your incredible mercies and how they are new every morning - I am not deserving of such mercies.  My sin is great and it continues...every day.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

Hebrews 2

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Hebrews 2:14-15

I paused again my studies of both Isaiah and Proverbs to listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which focuses on how God's Son - Jesus - became flesh and blood to die so that believers are justified in God's eyes, and so that Satan is rendered powerless to use our sin against us.  Jesus' death on the cross of course also gives believers eternal life (John 3:16). These blessings combine to provide believers the greatest gift of all time - life to the full now (John 10:10) and for eternity. Piper uses Romans 8:33, Hebrews 9:14, and Romans 5:9 to support his claims about how God justifies and on what grounds.  He sums up it nicely by stating: "[s]o, we are free from the fear of death. God has justified us. There is only future grace in front of us. Satan cannot overturn that decree. And God means for our ultimate safety to have an immediate effect on our lives. He means for the happy ending to take away the slavery and fear of the present." We should not only be encouraged but bold to live fearlessly for Christ.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me and You not only made me one of Your elect - You justify me, sanctify me, and You are saving a place for me in Heaven - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it is daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.