Judgment and the Character of God
Read Romans 3:21–26; Romans 1:16, 17; and Romans 5:8. What does
Redemption in the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins reveal about
God?
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The forgiveness of our sins implies two phases in Jesus’ mediation
in the two apartments of the heavenly sanctuary. First, Jesus removed
our sins and carried them Himself on the cross in order to provide
forgiveness to everyone who believes in Him (Acts 2:38, Acts 5:31).
On the cross, Jesus won the right to forgive anyone who believes in
Him because He has carried their sin. He also has inaugurated a new
covenant, which allows Him to put God’s law in the heart of believers
through the Holy Spirit (Heb. 8:10–12, Ezek. 36:25–27).
A second phase in the ministry of Jesus consists of a judgment, the
pre-Advent judgment, which was still future from the point of view
of Hebrews (Heb. 2:1–4; Heb. 6:2; Heb. 9:27, 28; Heb. 10:25). This
judgment begins with God’s people and is described in Daniel 7:9–27,
Matthew 22:1–14, and Revelation 14:7. Its purpose is to show the righ-
teousness of God in forgiving His people. In this judgment, the records
of their lives will be open for the universe to see. God will show what
happened in the hearts of believers and how they embraced Jesus as
their Savior and accepted His Spirit in their lives.
Speaking of this judgment, Ellen G. White wrote: “Man cannot
meet these charges himself. In his sin-stained garments, confessing
his guilt, he stands before God. But Jesus our Advocate presents
an effectual plea in behalf of all who by repentance and faith have
committed the keeping of their souls to Him. He pleads their cause
and vanquishes their accuser by the mighty arguments of Calvary.
His perfect obedience to God’s law, even unto the death of the cross,
has given Him all power in heaven and in earth, and He claims of
His Father mercy and reconciliation for guilty man. . . . But while
we should realize our sinful condition, we are to rely upon Christ as
our righteousness, our sanctification, and our redemption. We can-
not answer the charges of Satan against us. Christ alone can make
an effectual plea in our behalf. He is able to silence the accuser
with arguments founded not upon our merits, but on His own.”
—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, pp. 471, 472.
Why do the cross and the ministry of Jesus in our behalf suggest
that we should look confidently, but with humility and repen­
tance, toward the judgment?