NOT GUILTY!

Think of the emotions that these words bring. If you are the victim or a part of the victim's family, you wail, cry and mourn this verdict. If you are the accused, or a part of the accused family, you cheer, exult and hug everyone. Depending on which "side" you are on, you are either excited or depressed. Regardless of which role you play, there is normally very high emotion. If you have ever been in the place, in particular of the accused, then you know the emotions you feel as you wait for the verdict; and when you hear it.

That brings me to the fact that all of us, and I mean all of us, are guilty before God and deserving of Hell. Even for those of us who are followers of Jesus, if we look at the facts of our lives, and our daily sins; and then place ourselves before a holy, just God, we are guilty. We are undeserving of the gift of life; and only deserve God's wrath. We are GUILTY, in regards to the reality of our sin.

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth, he knew this was a church full of sinful, professing Christians. They were a mess; and by all accounts, if anyone was going to lose their salvation, it would be them. I can relate. And that is why, this is one of my favorite passages of Scripture:

I Corinthians 1:7-9 - "So that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, GUILTLESS in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

What was the final verdict going to be for these straying, sinful believers? NOT GUILTY! Isn't that awesome? When the time comes, even if we continue to struggle with sin (and we will); and even if we struggle with it to the extent of the Corinthian believers (and I do); the FAITHFUL GOD, through JESUS CHRIST, who is my advocate, will pronounce the final verdict, and it will bring me to tears and result in great rejoicing:

NOT GUILTY!