This is the “chief of sinners,” Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International, with the Gospel Light Minute X Podcast #339 titled, “How to Get off When You Are Guilty.” I’m here to remind you of what the Bible says, that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” like you and me.
After weeks of testimony and days of deliberation, the end is finally near. Silence sweeps the courtroom: it’s time to read the verdict. The defendant, attorneys, spectators, reporters—and the whole nation—breathlessly anticipate the outcome of this sensational trial. “NOT GUILTY.” A collective gasp reverberates from one end of the country to the other: how could someone who so many people thought was guilty be declared “not guilty”?
We’ve all witnessed this scene play out many times. From the comfort of our homes, it seems easy to know who is guilty and who is not. Wouldn’t it be so much easier if the accused would simply plead “guilty” and allow everyone to avoid the time and expense of a trial? But have you ever thought about what you would do if the tables were turned? What if you were accused of a crime? What if you were on trial?
A SERIOUS OFFENSE
Most of us are so quick to defend ourselves against the slightest accusation; would we be willing to plead “guilty” to a serious offense? For most of us, this is merely a hypothetical question—or is it? Do you realize that all of us have been charged with an offense worse than a misdemeanor or felony? The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned” and in Romans 6:23 that “the wages of sin is death”. You may want to dismiss these charges, or argue that you’re “not guilty,” but remember that God, the righteous Judge, sees and knows everything—our actions and our thoughts.
THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE
The Bible tells us about a courtroom scene which will take place in a coming day. God, the righteous Judge, will open His books of evidence and hold a trial for each person who stands before Him. Here’s the harsh reality of God’s courtroom: no charges are ever dropped, and no defendant is ever acquitted. That’s right: everyone who stands before God on that day will be declared “guilty” and condemned to the Lake of Fire for eternity.
We have all broken God’s law in one way or another—and God keeps track of those offenses. How many sins do you think are recorded in God’s books for you? It’s probably more than you think, especially when you consider what the Bible says in Proverbs 24:9 that “the thought of foolishness is sin” and in James 4:17 “to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin”. Even if you only sin once per day, it really adds up! My point is that none of us have any hope of standing before God and convincing Him that we’re totally innocent. What can we do? Is there a way out?
THE BEST LAWYER
Yes, thank God, there is! Jesus Christ wants to be your “lawyer.” Because He is the Son of God—fully God and fully man—He stands in a unique position to intercede for us with His Father. Also, because He is totally sinless, and because He suffered the penalty of sin—in our place—on Calvary’s cross, He has satisfied the righteous demands of both the law and the Judge.
How can we receive a full pardon from God? If we plead “guilty,” fully acknowledging our sinfulness to God, and put our trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sin, God will declare us “not guilty”! We will be “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”. When we believe that Jesus Christ died for us and rose again, His righteousness becomes our righteousness, our sins are all washed away, and we stand before God fully justified—not guilty!
HOW DO YOU PLEAD?
How about you? Have you humbly accepted God’s offer of salvation through Jesus Christ? I urge you to turn to God before it’s too late, before you leave this world in your sin and face Him as the righteous Judge. If you refuse Jesus in this life, there is no way of escape.
The Bible states in Romans 5:8,9, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
If you are willing to trust Jesus Christ with all of your heart so you can go to Heaven, please pray with me what is called the sinner’s prayer: Holy Father God, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and I admit that I have sinned against You and that I have broken Your Ten Commandments. I have lied before. I have stolen things before. I have lusted after people and things before. I have dishonored and disobeyed my parents. I have taken Your holy Name in vain. For Jesus Christ’s sake, please have mercy and grace upon my soul and forgive me of all of my sins, my failures, and my faults. As I now believe in Your Holy Son the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that He suffered, bled, and died on the cross for my sins, was buried and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me to repent of my sins past. Help me to turn from my old, evil life and follow You in the new life. For it is in Your Name I pray. Amen.
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Thank you for listening to this Gospel presentation. If you have decided to trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour after listening to this podcast, please email us at gls@gospellightsociety.com and let us know. To find out more about what you need to do after trusting Christ as Savior, visit GospelLightSociety.com and read “What to Do After You Enter Through the Door”.
The tract this podcast is based on is published by Moments With The Book, a non-profit organization whose purpose is to spread God’s Word to the world through the printed page and other media. You can order copies of this tract online at MWTB.org.
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