| Whatsoever
Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church pastordan@mtida.net "If you will confess me before man, I will confess you before my father in heaven" We most often focus on the negative portion of this truth from the mouth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but today let's speculate on the positive side. A little background. Satan rebelled against God when he sought to be worshiped. More specifically, he sought the worship due only the Lord God Himself. In other words, Satan sought to be God. This is exactly what he later tempted Eve with when he told her - "Did God really say you would die if you ate the fruit from the tree in the midst of the garden? You won't die, God knows that when you eat that fruit, you will be just like God" (Gen. 3) Let's turn the Spiritual Switch: Most people today don't want to submit to the only God. Instead, they want to be their own god just like Satan, and just like Eve. Let's look at the consequences of this Celestial Treason. Satan and the balance of the angels who chose to follow him in his rebellion were "cast down" from heaven with no indication of restoration. Man rebelled against God, and "because of His great love wherewith He loved us" (Eph. 2:4) God saved us by the Substitutionary atonement provided by the sacrificial death of His Son. This is the ultimate - "Daddy always did love you best", and would at least partially explain why Satan hates us so much. But it's even worse than that. Satan is the "accuser of the brethren" (Rev. 12:10) and is bringing accusations against us (can you say Job?). Jesus is "ever at the right hand of God interceding on our behalf" (Romans 8:34). Jesus is also our "Righteous Judge" (2nd Timothy 4:8). So how will this play out? Someday, Somehow, (I don't pretend to know exactly how, but these are the facts and they are above dispute. In heaven, in the presence of the Elders, the angels and the Heavenly Host and God the Father, Satan is going to take his best shot against you. He will not just accuse but rather bring to light your most secret evil deeds and thoughts. He will do this publicly and he won't have to make stuff up. He will tell the truth since we give him plenty of ammunition. When he has rested his case, your Intercessor (parakletas) will not try some courtroom antics. He won't use a bunch of props or find a glove that doesn't fit. He will loudly proclaim: "This one is guilty, but I paid for it. This one is mine". "There is now therefore no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus". (Romans 8). Jesus can declare you Not Guilty by virtue of the fact that He took your sin and put it on His account and put His righteousness on yours (2nd Cor. 5:21) This He will do to/for those who have declared Him as their savior and publicly professed Him as such through their Salvation, believers baptism, and by His grace, their lifestyle. He has/will make your sins a laughing stock; a public spectacle - "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;" (Colo. 2:14) All will cheer. All will cry sharing this same joy - and deliverance - Except Satan. Him -- not so much. If you died tonight, would you go to heaven? If yes, Why? |
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