Before the throne my surety stands...

I haven’t written in this blog because I haven’t taken the time to write an introduction to it.  I felt like I needed to explain the title, why I chose it and how it applies to my personal life.  The truth is however that I don’t know when I’ll get around to it.  I know it’s a good title, but I don’t think I have sufficient knowledge to defend it yet.  I just know it’s good.  “A wanderer in providence…” Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

                Anyways, so why am I writing today?  Because I’ve been learning so much here at Westminster and I find myself at a place where I can either put it into written text or forget it all together.  The most pressing thing that’s been on my mind (and heart) lately is the idea of Christ as our advocate.  For the longest time I think I would have answered the question of, “How can I know if I’m truly a Christian if there if sin is still present in my life?” by answering that one could know that they are saved by the fruit evident in their life (1 John).  The truth is though, that I think this answer brings more heartache and inner anguish without actually offering the true hope that is found in Christ.  Currently I’m reading a book on the life and teaching of Dr. Archibald Alexander, who was the first professor on staff at Princeton Theological Seminary way back in 1812.  In the early pages of the book it talks about Alexander’s struggle with God’s perfect justice and his own continuing sinfulness.  At one point Alexander seeks counsel from a local pastor who’s response is very similar to what I said above.   The result was this:

From this time I abandoned all persuasion that I had experienced regenerating grace.  My desire now was to be brought under such alarming convictions of sin, as I had heard of in the case of others.  But that evening, which I spent in the forest, I was greatly distressed on account of my exceeding hardness of heart.  I rolled on the ground in anguish of spirit, bewailing my insensibility.  The conclusion forced itself upon me me that I should certain be lost forever.  My mind was calm and thoughts deliberate, and when I came to this result I was nowise agitated, and began to contemplate the justice of God in my condemnation.  Yet I felt that I could never entertain any hard thoughts of God, even when suffering under his heavy displeasure.

Shortly after this, he found counsel from a Rev. James Mitchell.  Mitchell’s response to Alexander’s distraught state was much wiser, and got to the heart of the Gospel.  Garretson (the author of the book) records Alexander and Mitchell’s conversation as the following;

“To this Mr. Mitchell answered, that no certain degree of conviction was prescribed; that the only purpose which conviction could answer was to show us our need of Christ, ‘and this’, added he, ‘you have.’  He then represented Christ as an Advocate before the throne of God, ready to undertake my cause, and able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by him.  A new view opened before me at this moment.  I did feel that I needed a Saviour, and I knew Christ as an Advocate was able to save me.  This mere probability of salvation, after having given up all hope, was like the dawn of morning on a dark night;  it was like life from the dead… I was like a man condemned to die, who is unexpectedly informed that there is a friend who can obtain a reprieve.”

Yes!  That’s it!  As I read this I felt as if I’d been enlightened.  It’s not that I haven’t heard or known of Christ as my advocate, or even found great joy and peace in such truth in the past.  Rather it’s that this truth continues to astound me and bring me hope, joy, and peace on such a greater and deeper level as life goes on.  Fellow sinner, if you are struggling with conviction of sin and wanting to know how you could be presented as just before a holy God, know that we have an advocate in Christ Jesus who stands before the throne of God on behalf of sinners, not presenting as evidence our own righteousness, but HIS righteousness!  What good news!

                All this reminded me of a song that is sung frequently at the church we’ve been visiting here in Escondido, New Life Presbyterian.  The song is titled Arise, My Soul, Arise and the chorus goes like this:

Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne my surety stands,
Before the throne my surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.

In case you need a definition of surety (I did), it is: “A person who assumes legal responsibility for the fulfillment of another's debt or obligation and himself becomes liable if the other defaults” or “One who has contracted to be responsible for another, especially one who assumes responsibilities or debts in the event of default.”

So yeah, I guess what I’m saying in this inaugural blogpost is this:  God is Holy.  I’m a sinner.  My righteousness is not my own but Christ’s.  My debt is great, yet he has paid it all.  “Before the throne my surety stands.”