Not so long ago, when there was a public interest court-case in progress, the public could only keep track through courthouse photos and articles in the newspapers. Today, thanks to social media, we can actually follow the entire case from the comfort of our sofas. How life has changed!
Now it so happens that today is one of those days when I’m following a court case on social media. The accused person has a team of some of the best legal minds in Kenya. And as I watch the proceedings, I find my mind drifting away from the screen . . .
I observed that the accused is quietly seated, while the lawyers speak on his behalf. The lawyers are referring to evidence from the prosecution, various sections of our law, and a previous judgment that is in support of their client’s innocence. And the judge is listening carefully as the lawyers as advance their arguments.
My mind then strayed to a verse in the Bible, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” (1 John 2:1 NIV) Instantly it became clear to me that Jesus’s role as my Advocate is to speak on my behalf, before the Righteous Judge, to counter accusations levelled against me by the accuser (aka satan).
In pleading my case, I imagine Jesus states that because I have confessed Him as Lord & Saviour, His blood has covered all my sins and made me righteous in God’s eyes. I can “see” Jesus cite verses such as Romans 8:1 which says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (NIV) And “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9 NIV)
So, on the basis of Jesus’s blood shed on the cross, my confession and belief in Him as my Saviour, the Righteous Judge issues a verdict proclaiming me innocent and nullifying satan’s accusations against me. No wonder, the message Jesus brings is called the good news!
But this good news doesn’t give us a permit to live in any manner that we please, simply because we know we are already forgiven. As it says, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1–2 NIV)
The only fitting response from us is to fall more in love with Jesus and voluntarily live as He did, with God’s word at the centre of our lives!