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One of the most powerful images in the Bible is that of the courtroom. God is pictured as the judge and every human stands before him for judgment. If this picture sounds intimidating, it is because it should be. When humans stand before God’s judgment, we have a problem: sin.
Our Sin Makes Us Guilty as Charged
Human sin makes us guilty before God. Every time we sin, we break God’s law. Every time we tell a lie, harbor hate in our heart, or covet something that belongs to someone else, we are sinning. And each sin adds to our guilt before God.
Romans 3:19-20 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
Many people think of the law of God as a ladder to climb. If they can just be good enough or moral enough, then they can be acceptable to God. This isn’t the point of the law. God’s law (whether we think of the commandments of the Old Testament or the law written into our hearts) is meant to show us how sinful we are and how much we need a savior.
Jesus Was Convicted in Our Place on the Cross
The good news of the atonement is that Jesus came to remove our guilt. Imagine that you are in the court, staring up at God the judge. He is about to pronounce the sentence of guilt on you when Jesus steps up and offers to take your punishment. Even though you are rightfully guilty, because of his great love for you, Jesus will take your punishment, which is death. And because God loves you, he will accept that offer. This is how the Bible describes this process:
Romans 5:6-8 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
By dying for humanity on the cross, Jesus made it possible to receive forgiveness of sins. As a result, once a person puts their faith in Jesus, their sins are forgiven and the charges against them are dropped, to continue the legal metaphor.
Colossians 2:14 For God forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.
We Can Live in Righteousness
The Bible teaches that God didn’t stop the process at forgiveness. God also makes a great exchange with people when they become Christians. In salvation, a person’s sinfulness is transferred to Jesus and Jesus’ righteousness is transferred to that person.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
This is often called the Great Exchange. People are given credit for Jesus’ righteousness. When God looks upon them, he doesn’t see their sinfulness, but Christ’s good works.
- What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Read Romans 3:19-20. Why can’t following the law of God bring us to salvation?
- Why do you think people have a hard time accepting the fact that Jesus takes our punishment and there is nothing we can do to earn forgiveness?
- Read 2 Corinthians 5:21. Explain the “Great Exchange.”
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
