He Intercedes For Sinners

He Intercedes for Sinners

Abraham knew people in the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and he cared about them despite their paganism and depravity. So when God told Abraham about his plan to destroy the city, Abraham interceded for them with God: “Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” (Genesis 18:25).

God wanted someone to mediate, someone to intercede for Sodom. He wanted someone who knew the weaknesses of people and could sympathize to plead with him on their behalf. He appointed Abraham to that task to show Abraham something about himself, while at the same time showing us a picture of the mediating work of Christ.

It was Abraham’s descendant Jesus who would perfectly intercede with God in a way that would uphold the righteousness and justice of God while also saving sinful people from experiencing the destructive wrath of God. Because of the work of our Mediator, God will not always deal with sinners the way he dealt with those in Sodom and Gomorrah. The Judge of all the earth has made a plan for guilty sinners who deserve nothing less than annihilation to be saved from it.

God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. . . . This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. (Romans 3:25-26)

Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right? Yes, he will. Yes, he has. Our righteous Judge has justly punished sin. Our righteous Mediator has absorbed that punishment in our place.

Judge of all the earth, I’m so grateful that you have made a way for me to be saved from the wrath and judgment I deserve. Instead, you have given Christ what I deserve, and you have given me the freedom and blessings he deserves. I gladly choose to rest in your righteous judgment, knowing that you will always do what is right by me, with me, and for me.