YOUR DAY IN COURT
                                 by anon

If you were suddenly transported into the presence of God and you heard a
prosecuting attorney listing all the reasons you should be sent to hell,
how would you plead? Guilty or not guilty? 

The apostle Paul said, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God" (Romans 3:23). That makes us guilty as charged. 

What is the penalty for our sin? "The wages of sin is death, but the gift
of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). 

What could we say in our defense? "God demonstrates His own love toward
us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). 

                       The penalty has been paid.

Because Jesus became our substitute, the penalty has been paid. But we
must accept His forgiveness as a gift. The only requirement is that we
recognize our need and accept His offer. 

     "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe
     in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you
     will be saved. ... For 'whoever calls on the name of the
     Lord shall be saved'" (Romans 10:9,13)

If you haven't done so before, tell Jesus that you believe He died as your
substitute and accept the free and undeserved gift of forgiveness. That's
the only way to be right about your wrong, to be accepted by God, and to
be sure of heaven. 

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Our Daily Bread, Copyright 1994, used by permission of Radio Bible Class,
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49555, USA.