When it comes to your relationship with God and your hope for Heaven, your self-assessment is irrelevant.
What truly matters is whether you have been declared "not guilty" by Almighty God. Have you?
You might be wondering, “How can anyone be deemed 'not guilty' before God?” That’s a great question. We all know we’ve broken God's commandments in thought, word, and action. If you’re unsure about this, consider keeping track of every negative thought, harmful word, or sinful deed. You’ll soon realize that each of us has an extensive list of infractions.
You may think, “My sins aren’t as bad as others’.” But remember, God’s Word challenges this mindset. According to James 2:10, “Whoever keeps the whole Law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” Even one sin is enough to separate you from God now and forever. This separation leads to the suffering experienced in Hell.
Our instinct might be to counter our sins with good deeds, hoping they’ll outweigh our wrongdoings. However, this approach is futile; it’s akin to attempting to climb Mount Everest while hindered and unprepared. The reality is, no amount of good works can bridge that gap.
The only true solution is being justified before God. But how does that happen? It’s not through our efforts. Romans 3:20 reminds us, “No one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the Law; rather, through the Law we become conscious of sin.”
Are you trying to justify yourself with your actions, or are you placing your trust in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross? Do you have faith in Him, or in your own abilities? Understand that you cannot save your soul through your efforts. Romans 3:10 states, “There is no one righteous, not even one.”
Martin Luther struggled with guilt until he discovered the Gospel’s truth. He reflected, “Night and day I pondered until I saw the connection between the justice of God and the statement that ‘the just shall live by faith’” (Romans 1:17). Luther realized that God justifies us through grace and mercy, leading him to feel reborn and transformed. The Scriptures took on new meaning for him, shifting from a source of fear to one of profound love.
For believers in Christ, justification comes through faith. Think of it this way: when justified, God sees you “just if I’d” never sinned! You may be guilty, but you are declared "not guilty."
Charles Spurgeon, known as the “Prince of Preachers,” noted, “Saving faith is an immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, resting upon Him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life by virtue of God's grace.”
The Apostle Paul wrote: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Once saved, believers are called to live for the Lord, as Ephesians 2:10 states, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works."
When declared "not guilty" and granted the gift of eternal life, you respond to God’s grace by striving to honor Him with your thoughts, words, and actions. While good works don’t save us, they are the natural outcome of a life connected to Christ. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Justification occurs at the beginning of your relationship with Christ, completed the moment you place your faith in Him. Sanctification, however, is a lifelong journey of growing in faith and good works, maturing over time to become more like Him.
Where are you on your spiritual journey? Are you saved and justified through faith in Jesus?
If so, are you growing closer to Him each day?
What a joy it is for believers to be declared “not guilty” in God’s eyes! Remember, “the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Rejoice, for if you are a child of God, your sins are forgiven, and Heaven awaits you!