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Mercy Seat or Judgment?

May I ask you a question? If at this very moment you were to stand before God as judge what would be the outcome? If the rulings of God’s verdict are guilty or not guilty what would be yours? Now to answer this question you would really need to have knowledge of a couple things. The first thing you would need to know is the character of the judge, or what He is requiring of you. The second is whether or not you have met those requirements.

To help clarify the character of God as judge the Bible says, “Clouds and darkness are round about Him; righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His throne” (Psalm 97:2). Now judgment is pretty easy to understand; but what about righteousness? “I am Jehovah, speaking righteousness, declaring things which are right” (Isaiah 45:19). We also see that for a man to be just, his walk must be according to God’s estimate of what is right. “Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? intelligent, and he shall know them? For the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall fall therein” (Hosea 14:9). We also see that God has another term for that which is not righteous, “Every unrighteousness is sin” (1 John 5:17).

The character of God’s throne as judge is: “Do what is right according to My standard, or judgment is upon you.” Now God does not just judge our outward ways, He also judges the secrets of our hearts. “Would not God search this out? for He knoweth the secrets of the heart” (Psalms 44:21). “The word of God is living and operative, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and penetrating to the division of soul and spirit, both of joints and marrow, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). “But I say unto you, that every one who looks upon a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28).

God already knows the outcome of any man coming before His throne. He has tested man down through the previous centuries, and this is His verdict. “Now we know that whatever the things the law says, it speaks to those under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world be under judgment to God” (Romans 3:19).

Do you grasp the seriousness of your present position? Guilty and under judgment, you stand now not waiting for a verdict but waiting for your sentence. You may hope that you might persuade God to show you mercy. But if God showed you mercy and passed by your sins, where would be the justice of God’s throne? Proven to be guilty and under judgment there is only one thing you can expect; “according to thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up to thyself wrath, in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Romans 2:5). Not only are we heading towards that wrath of God but we keep adding to it every day and every hour. We are treasuring up wrath for the day of wrath! There is one more thing to consider concerning the wrath that you are under. It is eternal! “They shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against Me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorrence unto all flesh” (Isaiah 66:24). Consider the situation you are in—eternal judgment!

Now what can be done? Where can you flee from this coming wrath? “But now without law righteousness of God is manifested, borne witness to by the law and the prophets righteousness of God by faith of Jesus Christ towards all, and upon all those who believe: for there is no difference; for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God has set forth a mercy-seat, through faith in His blood” (Romans 3:21-25).

Justice must be served, and it has been. The blood of the Lord Jesus is set before the mercy-seat. What does this mean? Simply this, that when God dwelt with His ancient people His throne was on the mercy-seat. The blood of animal sacrifices were placed upon that mercy-seat by the high priest. These sacrifices were repeated over and over again, year after year. They all pointed to the one spotless Lamb of God whose one sacrifice would eternally satisfy the righteous requirements of God’s throne.

The blood of the Lord Jesus was not sprinkled before and on an earthly throne, but upon God’s throne in heaven. Because of the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross of Calvary, God can apply righteousness to the account of all who trust in Him, “on ours also, to whom, believing on Him who has raised from among the dead Jesus our Lord, who has been delivered for our offences and has been raised for our justification, it will be reckoned” (Romans 4:24,25).

God will justify you, the sinner, by faith in the blood of Christ. This is a free gift of God. God is just in doing so because the price has been paid—the righteous requirements of His throne have been met. How can you know that it for you? ”To him who does not work, but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness” (Romans 4:5).

How can you possess this justification? Simply believe God’s word. He cannot lie. Your proof lies in the blood of Christ and His bearing your sin upon the cross. If all your sins were laid upon Him and God raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in Heaven your sins are gone! God has declared you just or cleared of every charge of sin. “Even as David also declares the blessedness of the man to whom God reckons righteousness without works: Blessed they whose lawlessnesses have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered: blessed the man to whom the Lord shall not at all reckon sin” (Romans 4:6-8).

What proof do you have? God gives none but the blood of Christ. God is satisfied, are you? “Therefore having been justified on the principle of faith, we have peace towards God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Now men may have their own ideas on what makes a person just. But it is God’s righteous throne that needs to be satisfied—not ours. “Who shall bring an accusation against God’s elect? It is God who justifies: who is he that condemns? It is Christ who has died, but rather has been also raised up; who is also at the right hand of God; who also intercedes for us” (Romans 8:33-34).

Scripture verses quoted from the JND Version.

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