“Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” – Romans 8:33-34 (NASB)

The setting can be visualized as being in the divine courtroom. Those charged are “God’s elect.” It is impossible, to avoid that each believer is elected (chosen) by God for salvation. Also each person must believe and is held responsible if they do not. Yet our election by God does not stop the charges brought by our enemy Satan. We already stand justified for each charge. Justified by the one who justifies and who is also the one who condemns those who will reject God to their end. If we who believe were due to be condemned it would be by Christ Jesus. Jesus intercedes on our behalf and the charges are dismissed. But according to Colossians 2:14, when Jesus was killed on the cross, he also nailed all charges for all believers to that cross by His death. When we are condemned, He steps forward and intercedes for us because Jesus holds the debts and paid for them all.  He is the only one who can intercede successfully. Romans 8:1 tells us that for each person in Christ Jesusthere is no condemnation because Jesus has already paid the penalty for every charge the enemy can bring.

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