Romans 8:33-34 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies.… Who? The devil will try, but will he succeed? Methinks that at the last assize of the world the Great Judge of all will ask the question, and methinks I can see Satan come forward to give his evidence against them, which at the outset appears strong and overwhelming. But I see the Great Advocate for the defence, whose name is "Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God," begin to cross-examine him: — "What is your name?" "Satan." "Yes, but you have a few aliases, have you not?" "Yes." "What are they?" "The Serpent." "Again?" "The Devil." "Again?" "Accuser of the brethren." "So it seems. Where do you dwell?" "Hell is the centre of my operations." "And what is your occupation?" "Well, —" "Speak out that heaven and earth may hear!" "Walking about in the earth, seeking whom I may devour." "So it appears. Were you ever in heaven?" "Yes; there! commenced my existence." "Yes; and were you driven out for pride, ambition, and rebellion against the Supreme authority, for lying and other evils?" "Those were the charges against me." "And proved, I believe?" "Yes, I suppose." "So it seems. Have you not done all you can against God's elect, and do you not bear them the greatest animosity?" "Well, I cannot deny that." "That is my case, my Lord," says the Great Advocate." "Justified!" exclaims the Great Judge. "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? The devil will try, but he will never succeed. He is a biassed witness with a broken character whose word has no weight in the court of heaven." (E. Williams.) Parallel Verses KJV: Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.WEB: Who could bring a charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who justifies. |
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