This post is part of a brief series which gives a brief overview of the images used to describe salvation.
In this post we consider the image of the Law Court.
The biblical picture of the law court has several people involved. The king as judge, the defendant, and sometimes an accuser.
The King’s job was to try the case in righteousness. His role was to make sure his realm operated with justice and so he would seek out to save the righteous, punish the wicked and help the poor and needy.
Cases would be brought to the king’s attention. People would present their arguments and he would decide and pronounce his ruling.
In the case of criminal matters someone would be accused of wrongdoing and the king would either vindicate the person or condemn them. Those condemned were sometimes given a death sentence.
If we consider justification within law-court imagery we find it is the opposite of condemnation. When people are justified [considered to be righteous] they are then declared righteous and set upon a course towards eternal life. On the other hand, when God condemns someone they are judged as sinners and given a death sentence.
Rom 3.19-20 (‘accountable’); 5.16,18 (‘judgment’); 8.33-34 (‘charge’,’condemn’) and 1 Cor 4.3-4 (‘judged’,’court’) use this kind of imagery.
16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. (Rom 5:16–17)
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