Though many Christians do not realize it, there was a grand trial many years ago and their eternal destiny hung in the balance. You see, salvation is not a decision. It is not obtained by doing good works. Salvation is by grace, obtained by our righteous Advocate, the Lord Jesus Christ. He stood before the righteous Judge of the universe and represented His people, the elect. He is an overall sketch of how it went.

The grand trial of the universe

Uploaded: Aug. 07 2011

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WE HAVE A COURTROOM: The council halls of eternity

WE HAVE A JUDGE: There is a judge presiding over the case. It is not a trial by jury .But we have a judge who will announce the final decision. The Judge is the Righteous Judge of the universe: God the Father.

THERE ARE THE ACCUSED: The accused criminal stands before the Righteous Judge charged with many, many crimes. We are the accused. Guilty as charged.

WE HAVE A DEFENSE ATTORNEY: We have the defense attorney to defend them. One who will plead their case: This is our Righteous Advocate, Jesus Christ.

THERE WAS ALSO THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY: We have the prosecuting attorney who is charging them with their crimes. This person is Satan, the accuser of the brethren.

The court is in session , let us hear the final outcome and the sentence the judge will pass down.

1^stcomes the prosecutor, Satan: He begins his argument by pointing to Adam's fall, and reminds the judge that even though many will deny this has nothing to do with them, they have all proved that they do by their sins. If nothing else, they are all guilty in him.Then he points to Cain as the first evidence of this truth. He murdered his own brother. The prosecutor then illustrates very accurately the way man was before the flood when the thoughts of every man was on evil continually. He reminds the Righteous judge that He destroyed the earth Himself with a flood because of their wickedness (he snickers in his face because he left a seed of 8 souls to try it all over again.) Then he reminds the judge of National Israel, how they took His blessings, yet served the gods of the Canaanites. Then he proceeded to the cross where the greatest crime of the universe was committed. He graphically illustrates how that His own Holy, Righteous Son was beaten to a pulp, and finally crucified by His own people for crimes that he never committed. Then he gets very specific, and personal about every one of us showing that we are no better. We are all His sheep that have gone astray. He concludes: There is none righteous, no not one. He notes thatevery man, at his best state, is altogether vanity!! He reminds the judge that even though these criminals might do some good works, they are still guilty of former crimes, that they are still sinners and are not fit for heaven. Finally, in his closing remarks he reminds God about His own righteous law. God, "This is what you said. Hell is what your law demands. You can not lie. Your Holiness can not swerve from your law one jot or title." The argument was well prepared and everyone in the courtroom , even the Righteous Judge, knew it was all true. For most of these crimes were not done in a corner. There were smoking guns all over the courtroom. The evidence was accurate. And the Omniscient Judge knew every detail already. Justly accused. That is what we all are.

2^ndcomes the accused, the defendant. That is us. So, what would you say? Though we have no real rights, we are allowed to speak. Adam says it is his wife's fault, and then blames the judge for giving her to him. She says it is the serpents fault. Some in the courtroom are telling the Judge it is none of his business what they do.Yet, there are many, who know they are justly condemned, that we hear saying, "Lord have mercy on me a sinner."And over there is one who is saying, "Lord remember me when thou comest in to thy kingdom." So there are cries of mercy, favor, and those of utter hatred for the judge. A pitiful bunch of people indeed.

3^rd.Now it is time for the defense attorney, the Righteous Advocate. That is Jesus. He has been appointed by the court because no one else would take the case. There was none in heaven or in earth that was worthy of this case or had the proper credentials.But the good thing about the appointed attorney was this: He was the Judge's only Beloved Son. The prosecuting attorney did not like this but there was nothing he could do about it. It was all legal!!!

He enters the courtroom and everyone is silent. He looks in His Fathers face. Then He looks on the defendants. Then he looks at the prosecutor, Satan.

The first thing that comes out of his mouth is something the prosecuting attorney never expected. He says, "Take all of those that spoke unkindly to my Father, the Righteous Judge, and cast them into outer darkness. I can defend who I want to defend and I will not defend them. The Bailiffs get busy and clear the courtroom of these wicked people. The only ones left are those that begged for mercy, and favor.Yet these are as numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand of the sea. The next thing the defense attorney brings before the court is a part of the law that the prosecuting attorney had not considered. He wasn't as brilliant as he thought he was when he 1^st began this campaign in the garden. You see,the Son well knew His fathers righteousness. And he knew that God could still retain his righteousness by letting these he loved go free if someone else would agree to suffer in their place for the penalty. So the Son, the defense attorney, the Righteous Advocate, brings this legal document before the Judge. The Righteous Judge allows this document to be permitted into the case, and asks who will suffer for the accused. There was silence for about half an hour. As it was, there was none found in heaven, or earth that would... nor were there found any that could, that had the ability to suffer for so many crimes. So, the Son, the Righteous Advocate said, "Father, I will suffer for them. I can't do it as God, but I can as man. I will leave our home, and become as they are, yet without sin, and you can inflict all of the your wrath upon me in their stead. Though it grieved the Father, He loved those who cried for mercy, and favor so much that He agreed to the plan of redemption. No righteous laws were broken, God was still Holy. So the defense attorney, The Righteous Advocate, took all the crimes that were against those that cried for mercy and favor, and nailed them to His cross, in His Body, and there they died. Then the guilty were set free. No claims could further be made against them.

In His suffering, the Father had to turn his back on His Son. He could not bear to see His Son in such torments. But according to plan, the crimes could not lay hold on the Son. He was without sin and the prison of hell had to release him and all of those sins placed upon him went flying into the wilderness.

Finally,the Righteous Judge turns his face towards the prosecuting attorney, who is Satan. He had no defense attorney. And the court refused to provide him with one. He was cast into outer darkness, in chains, until the last day when the executioner will bring him forth for his death.

In essence, that is a picture of the spiritual courtroom of God where the elect were set free.

What did we have to do with all of this? Nothing…nothing except our crimes against the Righteous Judge of the Universe.

You see, Salvation is by Grace!!!

-NMP