Hear God Declare You
'Not Guilty'

Colin Melbourne

© 98-08 Born-Again-Christian.info

Have you ever been found guilty by a Court of Law? It's a humbling experience to be convicted and judged by your peers. Especially when you know you are guilty.

That's why it is so wonderful to share the Gospel with prison inmates. All of them have been found guilty, sentenced, and condemned. Some to confinement for decades, others to death.

Most have come to accept their guilt, and are eager to hear some Good News for a change.

But imagine what it must be like to hear God, The Judge of judges pass His Verdict on you.

(Insert your full name here) You have been found guilty in my sight. You have broken my Law. Rejected my offer of Mercy and Love. Go from me into eternal torment.

That's what all who reject the Lord Jesus Christ will hear from God on Judgment Day.

For we all stand guilty of sin before God. We can't help it, we are born that way, wicked to the core. I was and you were, whoever you are. God says so.

There is no-one righteous, not even one... there is no-one who does good, not even one. Holy Bible Ro. 3:10-12 NIV

But God in His immeasurable love has paid the price for your guilt and mine.

There's not a single sin ever committed that hasn't been fully punished in Jesus' death on our behalf.

But before anyone can benefit from God's Perfect Sacrifice, they must receive Jesus Christ as Lord (God) and Saviour.

Accepting that He made total atonement for their guilt, paid their full sin debt once and for all.

Then Christ will enter their heart by the Holy Spirit pronouncing them God's child, forgiven and right in God's sight.

Righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. Ro. 3:22

Righteousness from GOD.

In right standing with Him because of what He did for us.

Believers can then read Colossians 1:22-23 knowing;

Now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body, through death, to present you holy in his sight, without blemish, and free from accusation --(It couldn't be better than that could it?) If you continue in your faith, (Trusting that Christ paid your debt to God) established and firm... This is the gospel that you heard, and that has been proclaimed to every creature.

That was Paul's message.

You can imagine religious folks complaining.

"It's too easy. You have to beg, and pray, and do lots of religious stuff, and still you're a sinner before God."

Religion continues to say that today.

But praise God His Word is eternal, and clear.

All those who trust in Christ are declared righteous.

Some sinners protest, "I'm not so bad, I've never robbed a bank or killed anyone."

But they measure themselves against human standards, NOT God's perfect holiness.

In the searing light of His righteousness, all are found to have fallen short, and need to be forgiven.

Are you protesting your innocence before God? Claiming that you don't need saving from your sins?

I urge you to stop fooling yourself. Get off your pedestal, own up to the truth. Confess you're a sinner in God's sight, and call on Jesus Christ to forgive you now.

A glorious fact of the Good News, is that those who humble themselves in this way, will be exalted.

Get down from your pride, and Christ will lift you up.

It is only when a sinner admits their guilt, shuts their mouth, and accepts Jesus as Saviour and Lord, that they will hear God declare;

This one is not guilty. No longer a sinner, they are righteous in my sight, cleansed from all sin by the Blood of The Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. They are mine, covenant, friends, and free.

New, forgiven, and free

Have you heard God whisper that to your heart yet? You can right now

Do you accept the Good News is that Good? It is you know.

God made him who had no sin (Jesus) to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Co. 5:21

When you accept that, you will revel in the fullness of what Jesus died to give you.

Since we have been justified by faith we have peace with God through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Ro. 5:1

Justified: Just-as-if-I'd-never-done-it.

That's exactly what it means, innocent in God's sight.

Real innocence, by the grace of God.

That is the Power of Jesus' Blood.