There sure are a lot of accusations going around, aren’t there? Every day seems to bring new accusations against well-known individuals and new debate about whether each accusation is true. But those aren’t the only accusations going around. What accusations have people been making against you? There’s nothing we dread more than being accused. And there’s more. What accusations has the devil been making against you lately? What sins from your past does he bring up again and again and whisper, “How could you have done that? What if they find out? How could God forgive you?” In a world filled with accusations, I’ve come to treasure the words of Romans 8:33-34: “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Those verses take us into God’s courtroom. At first glance, that doesn’t sound good! If we were to stand before God, and the devil were to accuse us of our sins, what should the verdict be every time? “Guilty!” But these verses say something completely different. In God’s courtroom, you have a Lawyer, a Defender who is pleading your case for you. Who is it? Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus is at God the Father’s side interceding for you. Do you know what Jesus is saying to God the Father? “They’re forgiven. I died on the cross for their sins. I suffered all the punishment that they deserve. They’re forgiven. They’re perfect. They’re not guilty, all because of me.” When the devil accuses you of your sins, he’s wrong. You don’t have your sins anymore. Jesus does. Jesus took them away. You are free. Forgiven. Not guilty! Realize what that means for you: “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?” When the devil accuses you, you tell the devil: “Those aren’t my sins anymore, Jesus took them away. If you have a problem with my sins, go and talk to Jesus my Savior and my Defender!” Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? No one. Regardless of what the world says, regardless of what the devil says, regardless of what your own conscience might say, here’s the verdict in God’s courtroom: “Not guilty!” Not guilty because of Jesus.
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