When I was seventeen, I had to appear in court for the first time after a terrible car accident. As a lifelong rule-follower, I was so nervous that when the judge called me forward, I blurted out “Your Highness” instead of “Your Honor.”
For years, that moment summed up how I imagined standing before God. I pictured the heavenly courtroom through the lens of guilt, shame, and the fear of doing something wrong before a holy Judge. But a few years ago, while reading Romans 8, the Lord gave me a different picture.
Imagine this scene:
You stand accused by the enemy, brought before the righteous Judge. The Holy Spirit sits beside you as your Counselor. Jesus stands before you as your Advocate.
The Father asks how you plead, and Jesus answers for you:
“She’s guilty, Your Honor.”
The gavel slams.
The Judge asks: “What should her sentence be?”
Jesus replies: “Death, Your Honor. She deserves the full wrath of this court.”
Satan smiles.
But then your advocate approaches the bench and says, “Father, this one belongs to me. I paid her price.”
The gavel falls again.
“Guilty as charged—penalty satisfied.”
The enemy objects, but the Father declares, “She belongs to My Son. She is released into His care. Case closed.”
This is the truth Romans 8 shouts over every believer: There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Each of us was guilty before a righteous judge. We never have to pretend otherwise. We don’t have to hide when we fall short, or when we have questions, or when we wrestle with our faith. He knew we would. That’s why the Father sent the Son. So that every time the enemy accuses, He can legally say, “Guilty, and the penalty is already paid in full.”
Jesus advocates for you.
The Holy Spirit intercedes and counsels you.
The Father has already declared the final verdict: No condemnation. Case closed.
The enemy hates the courtroom of God because he can’t win where the blood of Jesus speaks. So he tries to convince us to settle out of court, accepting shame and guilt as a legal sentence. But my Father taught me to always bring it to the throne, where the story never changes: I was guilty, and Jesus paid it all. I was accused, and He declared me His own.
Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
And that is where my gratitude rests. Not in perfect performance, not in getting everything right, not in avoiding mistakes, but in knowing that I am fully known, fully loved, fully forgiven, and forever defended.
Grace Waves 