May 15

Morning

Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. — Acts 13:39 BSB

The believer in Christ receives justification in the present moment. It’s not something faith brings about in the distant future but something that happens instantly. Just as those who stand before God’s throne are justified, so are we, right now. We are as fully and perfectly justified as those who are already in heaven, singing praises and walking in white robes. The thief on the cross was justified the moment he looked to Jesus in faith. Paul, after years of service to the Lord, was no more justified than that repentant thief who had no time for service at all.

Today, we are accepted in the Beloved. Today, we are absolved of our sin. Today, we are acquitted before the judgment seat of God. Oh, what a soul-lifting thought! There are some heavenly blessings we cannot yet grasp until we cross into eternity, but justification is one we experience here and now. It’s not like the grain of Canaan’s land, which we can only eat after crossing the Jordan, but like manna in the wilderness, provided daily for our journey. Even now, we are forgiven. Even now, our sins are erased. Even now, we stand before God as though we had never sinned. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

There is not a single sin recorded against any of God’s people in His book today. Who can bring a charge against us? There is no stain, no blemish, no wrinkle on the believer in terms of justification before the Judge of all the earth. Let this present privilege spur us on to fulfill our present duties, and while we still have life, let us spend it all for the sake of our sweet Lord Jesus.

Evening

in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, — Heb 12:23 BSB

Remember, Christian, that you need two kinds of perfection: the perfection of justification in the person of Christ and the perfection of sanctification wrought in you by the Holy Spirit. Right now, even as redeemed people, we still have corruptions within us. Experience teaches us this quickly. Lusts and sinful imaginations remain in our hearts. Yet, we can rejoice in the knowledge that God will one day complete the work He has begun in us. He will present our souls, not only perfect in Christ, but also perfect in the Spirit, without any spot or blemish.

Is it possible that this sinful heart of mine will one day be as holy as God is holy? Will this spirit, which so often cries, "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" finally be free from sin and death? Will I no longer be plagued by unholy thoughts and desires? Oh, what a glorious day that will be! May it come quickly!

When I cross the Jordan, the work of sanctification will be complete. But not until that moment can I claim perfection in myself. Only then will my spirit receive its final baptism in the fire of the Holy Spirit. I long for the day of my final purification, the moment I enter heaven. On that day, I will be as pure as the angels, able to declare, “I am clean,” both through the blood of Jesus and the sanctifying work of the Spirit.

How we should praise the power of the Holy Spirit for making us fit to stand before God in heaven! Yet, let the hope of future perfection never make us content with our present imperfections. If it does, our hope is not genuine, for true hope in Christ is a purifying force, even now. The work of grace must be active in us today if it is to be completed tomorrow. Let us pray to be filled with the Spirit, so that we may bear the fruits of righteousness more and more.