In a Courtroom. 10-5-21
Have you ever noticed the legal language used in the Gospel of John? It is used throughout the Gospel in differing circumstances. The noun judge or the verb to judge is used 14 times in the Gospel. The verb “to prosecute,to condemn”are used.”Penal servitude,” a Greek word that Paul uses in Romans is in the Gospel of John. Words such as eyewitness,testimony, testify,witness appear multiple times in the Gospel. There is a reason for all of this legal imagery. This Gospel is written for the purpose of bringing people to faith in Jesus.
John 20:31
“but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
That is the purpose statement of the Gospel of John. To bring people who are unbelieving and condemned,to a saving knowledge of Jesus the Messiah. In order to accomplish this purpose,John employs courtroom language to make unbelievers aware that they indeed are in a legal proceeding when salvation from hell is the subject. Now,John does not elaborate on this courtroom setting,but the Apostle Paul certainly does in Romans. Paul portrays God as a judge before whom the whole world stands accused. Not only accused but condemned with no remedy save one. There is much to be said about the futility of offering anything to God as payment for sin in His courtroom. The perfect nature and character of a Holy God render any attempt (see repentance,turning from sin,prayer,praise,worship and all other human attempts at satisfying Him) laughable. In this courtroom,where the standard is total perfection and holiness,we as human beings stand as Paul somewhere says “without God and without hope.”
Yet in the midst of our pitiable state,the Gospel of John,as do other Books of the Bible,hold out hope, But,especially the Gospel of John. Using courtroom language to draw our eyes to the hopeless state we exist in,John points us to the Messiah, the Son of God,who has the gift of eternal life. And what must we do to obtain this gift and be declared not guilty and righteous before a perfect God? Ninety nine times John tells us what to do in his Gospel. Ninety nine times. Believe. Believe.Ninety nine times.That is the totality of our responsibility toward a perfect God to escape eternal condemnation.
Think about this.Just what is it that you,me,or anyone else can offer God for our justification? Anything? NOTHING. God makes the rules in His courtroom and He says the ONLY thing I can do is BELIEVE. Nothing else will or can satisfy. Not only that. For believing in Jesus the Messiah we receive eternal life,never to be lost. That is a far cry from what we as humans try to add to His requirement because of our pride. But,He will not allow it. No boasting about ANYTHING in His presence.
That dear brothers and sisters is why they call the Gospel ,Good News. Good news to the drug addict,the alcoholic,the prostitute…….but also good news to the doctor,lawyer,bus driver and the self righteous. Good news to all of humanity.
All we must do is believe.
God Bless
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