If we understand the message of Romans, we will be filled with all joy and peace in believing, and one reason for this is that we have in our pocket the verdict of the last judgment. That is not bad.

That’s what the word ‘justification’ means. It means you have the verdict of the last judgment now. Justification does not mean to make us righteous inside and out. Once you come out of the baptismal pool, you will still have to fight bad temper, lust, gluttony, anger, and all the rest. Justifying does not mean making us internally righteous; it means declaring us righteous.

Remember those famous words that the Christian is simul iustus et pecattor – simultaneously righteous and a sinner. In ourselves, always a sinner; in Christ, always righteous. That is the good news, that I am righteous in Christ with all my faults and failings, even though I may be an imperfect husband, father, minister, imperfect everything, except I am a perfect sinner.

I am counted righteous, and I can never be lost while looking to Yahushua

However, despite all that, because I have found Christ and I have turned my back on the old life and despite many a stumbling, I am counted righteous and I can never be lost while looking to Yahushua, despite a thousand falls a day.

The Christian hates sin, flees from sin, and looks to Yahushua, but there are still many stumbles, dear friends. Someday, compare the description of the Christian in John Bunyan’s book, Pilgrim’s Progress, with what you read in a lot of religious material sold in the bookstores. The bookstores will tell you that once you become a Christian, there are no more problems; everything is solved, you don’t have to fight temptation, you’ve won over it, you have no problems now, it’s all under your feet, it’s a great life, and everything is going to go your way. That is not true. A walk is a continually interrupted stumbling…

Simul iustus et peccator – the Christian is simultaneously righteous and a sinner. I still have a sinful nature, though Yahuwah has come and given me a new nature that moment by moment dominates the old as I look to Yahushua. Remember, we are called to the Christian walk, and a walk is a continual, interrupted stumbling. James 2:3 reminds us, “In many things we all offend.” In many things, we all offend, but I have the verdict of the last judgment. Yahuwah has declared me righteous. I can see the truth at the cross. Christ was made what he was not, and he was treated as though he were a sinner – why? So that I, who am a sinner, can be treated as though I am righteous. That is the message of Romans, dear friends.

This is a non-WLC article by Dr. Desmond Ford.

We have replaced the English titles and names of the Father and the Son with those employed by the apostles. In the scriptural quotations provided, we have restored their original names as used by the inspired writers. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the historical development by which the name Yahushua came to be rendered as “Jesus.” Additionally, we recognize that the English term “God” has been commonly employed as an equivalent for the Hebrew Eloah or Elohim. -WLC Team

Do You Have the Verdict of the Last Judgment?

[Verse 1]
Though I stumble and fall in the dust of the day,
Great Yahuwah has washed all my failures away.
For the verdict is given, the judgment is done,
I am covered in Christ, and the victory is won.
Though a sinner inside as I walk through the land,
By the mercy of Christ and Yahuwah, I stand.

[Chorus]
Oh, Yahuwah has spoken; the sentence is clear,
We can stand without terror and walk without fear!
For the verdict of judgment is held in our hand,
By the promise of Christ in a heavenly land.
We are perfectly safe in the love of the Son,
Praise Yahuwah and Christ for the race has begun!

[Verse 2]
When I rise from the water, the battle is near,
With my anger and pride and my shadow of fear.
Yet Yahuwah declares that my spirit is free,
For the righteousness given by Christ covers me.
Simultaneously sinner and saint in His sight,
Through Yahuwah and Christ, I am walking in light.

[Bridge]
Like the Pilgrim who traveled through danger and loss,
We are marching ahead by the power of the Cross.
To Yahuwah we lift up our triumphant voice,
In the merits of Christ, we will ever rejoice.
Though the bookstores may promise a path without pain,
In Yahuwah and Christ, we shall conquer and reign.

[Outro]
Every day I may slip, yet my soul is secure,
For Yahuwah has made His decree to endure.
Not a single accusation can tear us apart,
With the seal of King Christ written deep in the heart.
To Yahuwah be glory, to Christ be the praise,
We are justified now for the rest of our days!