Gold Tried in the Fire - Robert J. Wieland

12:37. Again, this is far more than a mere
declaration of innocence or guilt. Elsewhere, Jesus
says that in the judgment the Father will not
declare any lost person condemned ("the Father
judgeth [condemns] no man," John 5:22); and if
anyone does not believe in Him, Jesus said He
likewise will refuse to declare his condemnation.
(See John 12:47, 48.) Why? Because the evidence
of the sinner's "words" will do the job, and all who
observe, including those who are subjects of
judgment, will concur in recognizing it. Likewise,
the acquittal of the righteous will rest on evidence
easily recognized—their "words" demonstrating
faith in Christ.
The Sublime Paradox
The new element that comes into the picture is
Christ's righteousness which is imputed (or
credited) to the guilty person who believes in Him.
(See Romans 4:6.) This is no celestial legal trick. If
it were a mere maneuver, God could perform His
legal manipulations without requiring any faith
from the sinner. But it is clear that Christ's
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