The impeachment and trial of President Trump is all over the news. Mr. Trump was not convicted, even though a majority of the Senators voted him guilty, because it takes a 2/3 vote to convict.
In criminal trials in America, it takes a unanimous verdict to either convict or acquit, but not so in the case of impeachment.
Thus, Mr. Trump was acquitted by the judgment of the Senate, yet he was not entirely exonerated.
To acquit means to discharge from the accusation, or to "quiet" the charges against the accused.
Thus, Mr. Trump has had the accusation made by the House discharged, so that he no longer lies under any charges.
So too our Lord Jesus has taken away from those who trust in Him, the accusation of sin against us. Paul affirms that Jesus has "blotted out the handwriting" against us, nailing it to His cross!
But believers have better then a mere acquittal - we are declared without fault at all, we are justified, by the blood shedding of Jesus in our place on the cross!
As Jesus taught, the sinful publican went home JUSTIFIED by God. Not only were the charges taken away from the poor man, but God declared him to be without any fault at all, indeed to be righteous before God!
In Romans 3, Paul again declares it: by faith in the blood of Jesus, God clothes us with His righteousness, though we were unrighteous sinners in our own selves.
This happens because our crimes and our guiltiness were transferred, or imputed, to Jesus at Calvary, and He disposed of all of them in His Own body there.
Simultaneously, His righteousness and obedience were imputed to those who trust in Him, so that we appear before a Holy God in the beauties of Christ! |
