Double Jeopordy

I've been thinking and thinking through this whole concept of the imputed righteousness that we receive from Jesus Christ freely and totally by grace. It's incredible that despite the amount of sermons of Rob's that I've transcribed and the hours I've spent listening to the message of grace there is still some twisted part of me that baulks at the glory of this message! I guess it's due to the 30 years of religious tradition and the 2 legalistic churches I went to preaching a mixed gospel of grace and works. So I've been trying to think and re-think through how to get this understanding into my thick head - that the wonder and glory of this is TRUE!

Here's a few thoughts that occured to me. Some quotes and some Scriptures!

1. A Legal Precident.

There is a legal term called; "Double Jeopardy". It means this;

"Double jeopardy (ne bis in idem) is a procedural defense (and, in many countries such as the United States, Canada, Mexico and India, a constitutional right) that forbids a defendant from being tried twice for the same crime on the same set of facts".

Now I know that this is an earthly legal principle but doesn't it demonstrate what's happened in the High Court of heaven? If Jesus Christ has been tried for the sins of the whole world (which includes every sin that you and I have committed past, present and future) then WE cannot be tried again! We cannot be found guilty again! We cannot be held to account again because Calvary satisfied the wrath and justice of God! God cannot and will not bring our sins out and hold them to our account because His Son paid the penalty already!

2. A Quote to Ponder.

This quote is certainly going to make some blood pressures rise! I think Rob Rufus knew it would! He promised that this Sunday he would preach and explain it further. Here's the quote;

"SIN IS DEFINED DIFFERENTLY ACCORDING TO THE CONTEXT OF THE COVENANT. UNDER LAW SIN IS DEFINED AS FALLING SHORT OF THE LAW.
Missing the target. Not keeping the law.

UNDER THE NEW COVENANT SIN IS NOT DEFINED THAT WAY AT ALL. UNDER THE NEW COVENANT SIN IS DEFINED AS UNBELIEF IN THE GOODNESS OF GOD.

Now before fuses get blown - let's go to Scripture;

3. The Word of God!

What is the devil's main source of attack against Christians? He is called the "Accuser of the brethren". So what does the main content of his accusations tend to centre around? That we have fallen short of the glory of God and His law. We really wouldn't be very bothered (I hope) if the devil came to us and told us how disappointed that he was with us. No the devil tells us frequently how angry God is with us and how disappointed with us. And uses what? The LAW!

Colossians 2:14 and 15 specifically mentions the two aspects to Christ's triumph at the Cross and the Law and the demonic are mentioned in the same breath;

" ... having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him".

That is breath-taking! How did He disarm the rulers and authorities? By cancelling the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us (the Law) which was HOSTILE to us! I'm beginning to see why Rob Rufus gets so angry against legalists! The law is HOSTILE to us! Why on earth would we spend so much time trying to mix it in with grace?!

Furthermore the book of Romans has a great deal to say about the law! Romans 5:13;

" ... but sin is not imputed when there is no law".

Weymouth translates that verse;

"For prior to the Law sin was already in the world; only it is not entered in the account against us when no Law exists".

Now I already can prophesy the responses to what I am reflecting on. Am I saying or implying that the law is bad? How can I when the Word of God says it is not?

"What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law".

But there is the clue. We would not have come to know sin except through the Law. So the object of the Law is to make us aware of sin and even more of our need of a Saviour. So back to the title of this blog post and my initial musings. DOUBLE JEPORDY. Once judgement has been passed on a particular crime then it cannot be judged again! So while our legalistic backgrounds may wince and gasp at Rob's quote that sin under the Old Covenant is falling short of law but under the New Covenant it isn't - suddenly it starts to make sense! The law isn't a factor anymore in our dealings with God!

Now THAT'S a reason to smile on a cold Monday morning! :)