In case you haven’t noticed, this country is going through a major cultural revolution. And it has everything to do with God’s created order regarding gender distinctions and marriage between a man and a woman. God has made this creation order very clear: “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them… then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good… a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 1:27,31; 2:24)
And yet we just recently witnessed lawyers, including the Solicitor General of the United States, presenting arguments to the Supreme Court for the purpose of making so-called same sex marriages legal in all 50 states. Man in his pride and in his desire to be autonomous has simply disregarded the purposes in creation of his Creator. Clearly this is a manifestation of those who “although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God… professing to be wise, they became fools…” (Romans 1:21-22)
And to place God’s word regarding the institution of marriage on trial in this courtroom scene is to essentially place God on trial!
This isn’t new. When Satan, contrary to God’s warning, told Eve she would not die if she ate the fruit, he was placing God and His word on trial. He was calling God a liar, denying His goodness, and essentially saying that man should be the judge as regards what’s best for him, and what he can do or not do. He would define his own morality and call it good. This found expression prior to the flood when “the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5) and in the days of the Judges when “everyone did was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)
Many are applauding the progress being made towards what they anticipate will be a positive ruling regarding legalization of same-sex marriages. They see it as moving forward and being on the “right side of history”. Interestingly, Chief Justice Roberts noted, “You’re not seeking to join this institution, but change what the institution is…”
But God is not mocked. What we’re actually witnessing is an expression of God’s wrath on what appears to be a majority in this nation that have progressively ignored Him, and who have stepped up their efforts to silence and suppress those who desire to be obedient to God. The Apostle Paul wrote, “God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie… for this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful…” (Romans 1:24-27)
But there was a time when God put Himself on trial. He, the second Person of the Trinity, entered into our condition by taking on flesh. He then lived a life of perfect obedience. But “He (God the Father) made Him (God the Son, Jesus Christ) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) In this way, Jesus Christ so identified with the sins of His people that He was considered guilty of those sins. He then submitted Himself to a mock trial before men. But in this trial He also was standing in a greater courtroom, His Father’s, where He stood guilty as charged.
He was wrongly sentenced to death by men, but was justly sentenced to death by His Father. And so on the cross He died, obediently and willingly suffering eternal wrath and damnation. But this death was not for His sins, but for the sins of His people.
Now, the good news is that those who put their faith in Him will never have to stand trial in God’s courtroom. For them, the debt due for their sin has been paid in full and they are now justified, dressed in the pure righteousness of Christ. Such mercy… such grace… such love! “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.” (1 John 3:16)
And yet we just recently witnessed lawyers, including the Solicitor General of the United States, presenting arguments to the Supreme Court for the purpose of making so-called same sex marriages legal in all 50 states. Man in his pride and in his desire to be autonomous has simply disregarded the purposes in creation of his Creator. Clearly this is a manifestation of those who “although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God… professing to be wise, they became fools…” (Romans 1:21-22)
And to place God’s word regarding the institution of marriage on trial in this courtroom scene is to essentially place God on trial!
This isn’t new. When Satan, contrary to God’s warning, told Eve she would not die if she ate the fruit, he was placing God and His word on trial. He was calling God a liar, denying His goodness, and essentially saying that man should be the judge as regards what’s best for him, and what he can do or not do. He would define his own morality and call it good. This found expression prior to the flood when “the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5) and in the days of the Judges when “everyone did was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)
Many are applauding the progress being made towards what they anticipate will be a positive ruling regarding legalization of same-sex marriages. They see it as moving forward and being on the “right side of history”. Interestingly, Chief Justice Roberts noted, “You’re not seeking to join this institution, but change what the institution is…”
But God is not mocked. What we’re actually witnessing is an expression of God’s wrath on what appears to be a majority in this nation that have progressively ignored Him, and who have stepped up their efforts to silence and suppress those who desire to be obedient to God. The Apostle Paul wrote, “God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie… for this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful…” (Romans 1:24-27)
But there was a time when God put Himself on trial. He, the second Person of the Trinity, entered into our condition by taking on flesh. He then lived a life of perfect obedience. But “He (God the Father) made Him (God the Son, Jesus Christ) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) In this way, Jesus Christ so identified with the sins of His people that He was considered guilty of those sins. He then submitted Himself to a mock trial before men. But in this trial He also was standing in a greater courtroom, His Father’s, where He stood guilty as charged.
He was wrongly sentenced to death by men, but was justly sentenced to death by His Father. And so on the cross He died, obediently and willingly suffering eternal wrath and damnation. But this death was not for His sins, but for the sins of His people.
Now, the good news is that those who put their faith in Him will never have to stand trial in God’s courtroom. For them, the debt due for their sin has been paid in full and they are now justified, dressed in the pure righteousness of Christ. Such mercy… such grace… such love! “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.” (1 John 3:16)