More thoughts on the Court Room Drama

Just a little over a year ago I posted about some failings in the traditional "Court Room Drama" that we all tend to use to explain what Jesus did for us at the Cross. If you follow the link you'll see that I never did follow up on a problem I had in it... bygones right? Maybe I will fix it someday...

Anyway. I was on the street with some people this past weekend and I was listening to one man explain the Gospel to someone using the traditional Court Room Drama. You're found guilty at trial, but Jesus comes in and offers to pay the fine.

Unfortunately he was giving a Lordship Salvation presentation. In so doing he was explaining his view of Repentance. "It means to stop going in the direction, turn around and head the other way." He then spent some time talking about why this was reasonable. He said that "Jesus gave up the most precious thing He had, His very life, and so this is what He expects of you and I. That we give up our life for Him."

It sounds very holy doesn't it?

Well, I got to thinking. In the arena of a court room. If all your debt to society is paid they let you go. You don't have to promise to never break the law again. You don't have to promise to love the Judge. You don't have to promise to do everything the Judge does. If the full debt is paid then you are free. Your payment has "justified" you before the Court. You are in right standing with the court and there is nothing more required.

This little drama is so popular because when Christ was about to die on the Cross He Himself cried out "It is finished!" or rather the Greek word τετελεσται (definition at BlueletterBible) which is what was written on the document that sentenced a convicted criminal once his full sentence was paid and he was completely free to go. It's payment in full.

In our case Christ died for all of our sins. Not just the ones we're aware of the day we put our faith in Him. So, if "it is finished" for all our sins, then Salvation doesn't have anything to do with what we pledge or how we promise to act. All the requirements for our salvation are met in Christ Jesus because Salvation is of the Lord, not man.

It has everything to do with Who we place our faith in.