"A reason to Rest in a restless world."

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“Double Jeopardy.”

 

My conversion was more a surrender out of the fear of God than conviction of my evil works.

 

Conviction of sin came later and still comes like unending threatening waves on the seashore. Although real and awesome it causes no fear in me because of the blessed assurance that Jesus has already paid it all.

 

Once I asked my granddaughter Deborah, “Why do you love Jesus?”

She replied, “Because Jesus took the blame for me.”

 

As a little girl who is used to losing every confrontation with her older siblings for no other reason than having learned to speak on her own behalf later than her older siblings, she is at a disadvantage and truly appreciates that someone else can take the blame for her shortcomings.

 

As I build my theology on the words from the mouth of babies, I am amazingly convinced that my fearless attitude for the future rests in the words and work of Jesus on the cross where “He took the blame for me.”

 

Let me explain myself a little bit more:

“God is Love and God is just.”

 

If a scale of two plates being evenly balanced can represent salvation, it must remain balanced before God grants me the receipt of his satisfaction which is signed by the blood of Jesus on my behalf.

 

“The love of God in Jesus is evident on the cross.” But the justice of God is that he has accepted the sacrifice of Jesus, “Who took the blame for me,” when he said, “This is my son, whom I love, in him I am well pleased. Listen to him.” God is pleased if I obey Jesus.

 

All I have to do in order to be justified is by faith to believe in Jesus.  

Then the plates of the scale of God are even and unaltered as if I have never sinned. The security of my salvation is the same as that of Abraham who, “Believed in God and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

My debt to God has been charged to Jesus and the Holy Spirit has made sure that I have a copy of the down payment for my bill.

 

My faith in the justice of God being satisfied produces in me an unspeakable peace and courage unknown before. 

 

Even though the memories of my sins visit me often, they are to me as toothless lions so that even the King Cobra looks like an overgrown worm. The fear of God has removed any and every fear from me.

Fear is like money, when you invested it in the fear of the Lord, there is no fear left to invest in anyone. 

 

Do you want to taste the life of heaven while on earth?

Believe in God and it shall be credited to you as righteousness.

Should you resist believing the word of God, then guilt and the blame remains on you.

 

Look at the signature of Jesus with the ink of his blood on the receipt granted to you by the Holy Spirit. “Paid in full.” No need to pay again.

 

Because the justice of God is satisfied, the elect unto salvation is protected and even has the Law on his side called “Double Jeopardy.”  No one is required to pay twice for the same debt.

That is why our condition is called Salvation and not Restitution.

 

As our good old brother Charles Spurgeon would say:

“Being justified by faith, we have peace with God. Conscience accuses no longer. Judgment now decides for the sinner instead of against him. Memory looks back upon past sins, with deep sorrow for the sin, but yet with no dread of any penalty to come; for Christ has paid the debt of his people to the last jot and tittle”.

 

As Paul would add to his loving words: “Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Nothing includes you.

 

This is living supernatural lives in the most natural way while we are still in this world. “His will is done as in heaven.”

 

This was a “Page” of the Holy Spirit on duty.   

 

Gerry Gutierrez.

 

Pictures are of some of my Grandchildren. Deborah is the first in pink schunchie.