because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead.

— Acts 17:31

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

— Romans 5:1

But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

— 1 Corinthians 6:11b

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

— Romans 8:1

He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him

— Colossians 1:22

For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

— 2 Corinthians 5:21

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

God will ultimately judge sinners and vanquish sin. The crowning of Israel’s high priest, Joshua, pictures Christ’s role as our Priest – our intercessor – and our King – the rightful ruler of this world and our lives. The blood Christ shed for us allows Him, our great High Priest, to be at God’s right hand as our advocate. When Satan brings up the truth about our sin, Christ intervenes on our behalf, offering His righteousness in exchange for our sin. God’s declaration of justification on behalf of sinners is held firm by His mighty power, not our staying power.

Romans 8:1 declares, Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” God provides a perfect substitute for imperfect sinners because He is holy and just, requiring absolute perfection for righteousness, which humans are incapable of achieving on their own. God provides a perfect substitute for imperfect sinners. Through the “glorious exchange” of substitutionary atonement, Christ’s righteousness is imputed to believers. God then can credit us with Christ’s perfect record, allowing Him to see us as holy and blameless.