ADDRESSES ON ROMANS
looks around the universe to find his answer. In view of the fact that God's eternal purpose included you and me; in view of the fact that He foreknew, predestined, called, and justified us, that we might be conformed to His glorious image; in view of the fact that He will one day glorify us-in view of all these wonderful facts, the inspired writer asks, "Who shall lay any- thing to the charge of God's elect?" Paul had his enemies. Probably the legalists were his greatest foes. They were like a pack of wolves, licking their lips in unholy glee as they said, "We shall lay this to the charge of Paul." But Paul knew they could do him no harm. He answers his own question in the words that follow. "It is God that justifieth." And even to the end of the chap- ter he goes on to show that God's redeemed child is forever safe from harm. These wonderful words include the depres- sion; they include the loss of home, loved ones, friends. Do you have anyone laying a charge against you? Paul did. He was called "a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition ... and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes" (Acts 24:5). But Paul was unafraid and unashamed. He knew the "Judge of all the earth" who ever vindicates the sinner saved by grace. He knew that his acquittal had been written in the court of heaven. Against the righteous judgment of God there can be no appeal. My friends, when the Word of God says, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life," it means exactly what it says. (See John 3: 36.) Suppose the Supreme Court of the United States should hand down a verdict on a murder ca.!!e. Then suppose new evidence were given which proved that the Supreme Court had rendered a wrong verdict. Then the Judge could reverse the verdict. Such action would reveal that the court was not infallible. But this could never be the case with the Almighty God, our Saviour. He is all-wise. He could never render a wrong verdict. And He it is who justifieth! "Who is he that condemneth ?" Paul asks further, enlarg- [Pag~ 163
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