I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word (John 17:6).
The question must not be “do you keep God’s commandments?” Nor is it, “does the believer keep God’s commandments?” Both questions are moot and misleading. But this is how the enemy works, is it not?
The real question is, have you kept them?
The real issue for all men everywhere, is whether or not God views you as having perfectly and fully obeyed every precept of his infinitely perfect law, or not. Who is your representative? Is it Adam one? Then the answer is clear, you have not kept God’s law. And therefore you are forever under his wrath. There is no exception, and no alternatives. The wages of sin is death. In Adam all die! All have sinned (Rom 3:23)
But now, If, in the blessed mercy of God’s eternal purpose, Christ Jesus is your representative, the final Adam of all God’s elect: We who undeservingly find in Jesus Christ absolute perfection, are declared by him, to his Father, without our opinion , consideration or argument, as having already kept God’s law (Rev 3:10)!
Oh, the beauty, wisdom and simplicity of union with Jesus Christ. How He so prevails in his work of mediation for poor sinners, chosen in him. We don’t even know how to get the question right, let alone determine the outcome of it. He has stated things as they out to be stated. “ They have kept thy Word”
It matters not, now, who says what, about what, to whom, since the Son, our advocate has addressed the highest court in the universe, with regard to a perfectly righteous and inflexibly just and Holy matter (Isa 42:21, Isa 54:17)!
To wrangle over whether or not believers are keeping God's law, is to ask whether their surety, and representative, is still working out a righteousness for them and has not finished it (Rom 10:4).
Both questions become insults. First to Christ who has manifested himself to those the Father gave him, to settle the matter!
Secondly to the believer, being tempted to defend himself, as if he has no advocate. and as if the case has not been settled and closed (1cor 1:30).
Liberated, once again by a rule that cannot change, the Word of the living God. The gospel of his freeing grace, which stands between Justice and the sinner, to plead their case triumphantly, by him who loved us (Rom 8:33, 34).
“Christ, the sinners perfect plea”
This is why the Lawyer, says, to the represented, just before entering the court room, keep your mouth shut. I’ll do the talking!
We have an advocate with the Father! ‘ He everliveth to make intercession for us!
Who wouldn’t both love and serve a God like this, with all that is in me, bless his holy name!
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