Probably one of the most sobering verses in all of Scripture is Hebrews 4:13, which says: “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (emphasis added). Many anecdotes are posited in regard to what we can certainly count on in our existence, but the inspired word of the living God offers this one – the ultimate accounting. Whether one chooses to believe it or not is irrelevant. Many do live in essential denial as the Psalmist David depicted: “Why do the wicked renounce God? He has said in his heart, ‘You will not require an account’” (Psalm 10:13). Existence without accountability (boundaries or restraint) is man’s warped view of freedom, but the final accounting looms: “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
Man’s basic grasp of ultimate accountability is betrayed by his varied efforts to appease and/or please the Divine (in whatever form or essence He esteems it) or to at least appease his conscience. In every case (absent the grace of God) it results in laborious, wearisome bondage – even if to himself and his own devices. For all of these, the Creator will pass the judgment that says – “Not good enough!” None of it measures up to His standard of perfection, and all of it must be ultimately cast away from unapproachable holiness.
In history, however, the Creator has done two things to prepare His creatures for this ultimate accounting. First, He has proved to man that on his own, he is incapable of measuring up to the perfect requirement of God. Even those who thought they had arrived were told: “unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). Certainly in exasperation they must have thought “What more can we do?!”
Disclosing the second thing that God has done in history, the apostle Paul (having been confronted with the issue personally) encapsulates the answer to that question in Romans 3:21-22: “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed . . . the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.” Faith in Jesus Christ results in the gift of justification to all who believe. This righteousness exceeds that of the very religious or self-righteous. It cannot be attained by doing much good or more good, but simply by being “found in Him, not having my own righteousness, . . . but that which is through faith in Christ” (Philippians 3:9).
As Noah, who was found in the ark “by faith,” was shielded from the judgment of God (Hebrews 11:7), so those who are found in Christ by faith are no longer under judgment – today or in the end. For those found in Christ, the apostle affirms, “There is therefore now no condemnation” (Romans 8:1), because those in Christ have “become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). God the Father regards sinners with favor because of the merit and righteousness of His Son. The apostle John expressed the benefit of abiding in Him: “That when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (1 John 2:28). In Christ, we benefit from His righteousness and His character. We are free to live!
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