Question:
The bible talks about judgement for christians. If God were to stand before you and say, "are you guilty or are you innocent?" what do you answer?
Obviously we are guilty but if we answered guilty it seems we are wrong because we are made innocent through grace. At the same time do we plead innocent before God? I always thought we pleaded guilty and asked for forgivness.
What I'm getting at is, we are righteous and unrighteous at the same time but we are to live as though we are righteous if we believe we are forgiven of sins. But...what about when we stand before the one who makes us rightous? Do we say we are righteous because it seems offensive to say we aren't in the presence of the one who made us righteous or do we say we aren't because we are in the presence of a holy and ever righteous God?
In some ways the answer seems simple but in some ways not, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts, although perhaps my question too trivial to considering.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Vespertine The bible talks about judgement for christians. If God were to stand before you and say, "are you guilty or are you innocent?" what do you answer?
Obviously we are guilty but if we answered guilty it seems we are wrong because we are made innocent through grace. At the same time do we plead innocent before God? I always thought we pleaded guilty and asked for forgivness.
What I'm getting at is, we are rightous and unrightous at the same time but we are to live as though we are rightous if we believe we are forgiven of sins. But...what about when we stand before the one who makes us rightous? Do we say we are rightous because it seems offensive to say we aren't in the presence of the one who made us rightous or do we say we aren't because we are in the presence of a holy and ever rightous God?
In some ways the answer seems simple but in some ways not, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts, although perhaps my question too trivial to considering.
Joh 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
Joh 1:13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
God has declared all who believe in Jesus' name righteous. I am not going to substitute my judgment for His. If He declares it, it is true.
Chris
Answer:
I doubt we'll ever be called on to answer this question, but the question is that we are made righteous through Christ.
Answer:
On our own, all of our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). However, when believe in Jesus and get born again, He becomes our righteousness.
2 Corinthians 5:21
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Once we are saved, our righteousness comes from faith in Jesus. He took our sin so that we no longer are accountable for it.
Philippians 3:9
and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
It is faith in Christ that makes us righteous before God. Therefore, if I were to stand before God and He were to ask me if I guilty or innocent, I could (and can) boldly approach the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) and declare myself innocent due to Christ taking my sin on Himself.
2 Corinthians 9:15
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
Answer:
I guess theres no more to it then.
Answer:
Pardoned.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Nate Pardoned.
AMEN.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Vespertine In some ways the answer seems simple but in some ways not, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts, although perhaps my question too trivial to considering.
Well, I think the Bible answers that:
"I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes." (1 Cor 4:3-5, emphasis mine)
When I stand before God, if he asks, "Are you innocent or guilty," my only response can be "that's for you to declare, Lord."