In a court of law environment, those appointed to sit on the jury and
the observers in the courtroom might hear the jury foreman read the ruling
pertaining to the findings of twelve jury members surrounding the preponderance
of evidence against a defendant that has been accused of a criminal act against
society, thus, breaking laws pertaining to the offense. “Not guilty” or “Guilty” is usually the
verdict that is rendered.
A “hung jury” sometimes occurs when members of the jury cannot agree as
to the guilt or innocence of the one accused.
Another trial is then ordered by the judge unless the prosecuting
attorney drops all charges, because there is a lack of evidence to convict the
defendant.
Depending on the verdict, the person on trial will either be acquitted
and set free or sentenced and incarcerated; separated from loved ones and
friends for the period of time that the law prescribes; pronounced by
the judge.
In the United States judicial system, a person is considered innocent
until proven guilty, but when a person sins, they are automatically condemning
themselves as being guilty in the eyes of God no matter the degree of sin. Sin is sin.
There is no safe level of sin that God endorses, not even a little, white
lie.
(Romans 3:23), “for all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
There has never been a person on earth that has not committed some type
of sin except Jesus Christ. He alone is the only individual that never sinned. He was God in human flesh when He walked on
earth. The God of creation was
incarnated (embodied) into a baby boy that was born to a virgin named
Mary—Jesus, the Son of God.
This wicked world needed a Savior, because of sin. All generations of people since Adam and Eve
have been declared “Guilty” because of the “adamic nature” that is born in
every person. This common denominator of disobedience and immoral character of self-indulgent living are the ensnaring fibers that separate us from a holy God.
The Lord came to seek and to save those that were lost and condemned to
hell. God took upon Himself, flesh, and
dwelt among man, because everyone was and is guilty as charged. Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden,
which separated them and all future generations from God. This judgment is inherited by default, but God made a way to reconcile humanity to Him.
Only God can acquit fallen man for breaking His laws. His Son’s death on the cross made it possible
to set humanity free from their state of rebellion (sin) against the Godhead;
free from the sentencing that accompanies sin.
Humanity need not be sentenced to an eternity separated from God,
because we are in the dispensation of God’s grace. The human race is no longer under Old
Testament laws, but if we confess Jesus as Lord of our life, we will certainly
endeavor to live by them with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells inside
every Christian.
God shows mercy to those that believe on the name of Jesus and repents
of their sins. Jesus paid the full price
for our redemption when He willingly died and shed His blood for the sins of
mankind. He is the mediator, our
attorney that stands between God and us and pleads our case before Him.
Jesus bridges the chasm that separates us from God by showing Him the
evidence of suffering that He endured for our redemption; nailed-scared hands
and feet, and a wound in His side that was placed there by a Roman soldier when
he speared Jesus as He hung on the cross suspended between heaven and
earth. The Lord paid the full price for
our acquittal. He willingly died on our
behalf, because of His unconditional and absolute love for you and me.
(John 3:16-18), “For God so loved
the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life.”
vs.17 “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but
that the world through Him might be saved.”
vs.18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not
believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God.”
When a person cries out for forgiveness and takes a step of faith
toward Jesus, the Prince of Peace, to receive clemency and a purpose for living, God sees them through the
blood that Jesus shed on the cross. God
immediately releases them from the bonds that held them fast—amnesty is manifested. The blood reminds God of the promise He made
to all people.
(1 John 1:9-10), “If we confess
our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.” vs.10 “If we say
that we have not sinned we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
There is no other way to escape the sentencing of God except through
His Son, Jesus. God’s guilty verdict is
the final ruling if a person stands before Him without the blood of Jesus
covering their sins. Sentencing will take place at God’s judgment seat if their
name is not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
(Revelation 3:5), “He who
overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name
from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before
His angels.”
Acquittal happens at the moment of conversion. What is conversion? It is when an individual realizes their need
of a Savior and surrenders their life to Christ by asking forgiveness of their
sins. God then rights the wrongs that
they have done and forgives their sins.
This act of mercy is grace at its finest; given in love. It is like being born-again. Our spirit is pronounced clean—“Not
guilty.” We become spotless and white as
the driven snow, because God removes the blackness of sin from our heart. He then throws these sins into the sea of His
forgetfulness, never to remember them against us again—even those little, white
lies that we thought were okay, but weren’t.
Those that have found grace in the eyes of the Lord are born into the kingdom of God
(John 4:24), “God is Spirit, and
those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
(1 Corinthians 2:14), “But the
natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are
foolishness to him, nor can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned.”
Every individual is given freewill to choose right from wrong. They will either live as God would have them
live; separated from the pollution of uncleanness, or go their own way and sin,
thus, sealing their fate, because they chose Satan’s way of living. No one can serve God and Satan at the same
time. Freewill chooses one or the
other.
The choices made in this flesh determine the outcome of where our soul
resides after death—heaven or hell—acquitted or sentenced.
(Matthew 6:24), “No one can serve
two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he
will be loyal to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon.”
(Revelation 3:16), “So then,
because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My
mouth.”
The period of time that the Word of God prescribes to unbelievers is eternity in hell for those that
refuse to submit their will unto God and turn from disobedience. They are separated from God and loved ones forever.
The verdict is not dependent upon twelve jury members. God is judge and jury, but we are the ones that determine our
destiny; no one else. The
choice is ours as to whom we will serve while on earth—God, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, or Satan, the
father of lies and deceit.
Written by,
Papa Boyd
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