253. Judgment and Righteousness
Jeremiah 33:15 In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.
The Lord prophesies that “in those days,” the days of the Messiah, the Branch of righteousness will spring up according to the Messianic prophecy given to David. God will cause this to happen at the right time. The promise for us is that He, the Branch, will execute judgment and righteousness. This happened when Jesus died on the cross, and the promise is true for all who will believe in Him.
Jesus executes judgment during His lifetime. The judgment is against Sin, wherein all our sins were placed on Jesus and then He was judged and condemned to death for our sin. Our Enemy, Sin, is judged completely, “finished,” every sin in us and by us is taken away by the Lamb and cleansed in the Blood. Therefore, there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Sin is definitely judged, and it shall be removed from our presence in eternity.
The judgment is against Satan. “The prince of this world is judged,” so says Jesus. Satan can no longer truthfully accuse us of sin and guilt. Jesus judged Satan when He resisted Satan’s temptations. He judged Satan when He took authority and cast out demons on numerous occasions. Jesus sends the Spirit to convince each of us of this judgment. Believers can say with Jesus, “he has nothing in me,” and “greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.”
The judgment is against Death. Jesus exhibited death’s judgment when He healed diseases (which are little deaths) of all kinds. And then He Himself raised three people from the dead. They died again, but the example remains true: we will all be raised from the dead permanently. And then Jesus violently judged Death in His own resurrection, which was permanent and eternal. Finally, Death is the “last enemy” to be destroyed, and it will finally be thrown into the Lake of Fire. Jesus executes judgment.
Jesus also executed righteousness for us and gives it to us. Because of Christ, God declares us righteous and the Holy Spirit is in the process of making us more and more righteous in actual behavior over time. He executes: Jesus makes it happen; He makes it real. And the Spirit convinces us of righteousness through the Gospel. This convincing is more real and effective than our own sight and experience. It is completely executed in these New Testament days, and at the End God will finish what He started.