Who shall bring a charge against us?

"Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us."

Romans 8:33-34

There are many blessings associated with Jesus' ascension. He rules over all things at God's right hand (Eph. 1:20ff.). He is preparing a place for us in heaven (John 14:1ff.). He sends us His Holy Spirit to sanctify and keep us in the faith (John 16:7ff.). He will come again in clouds of glory just as His disciples saw Him go up into heaven (cf. Acts. 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:13ff.; Rev. 1:7).

But there is another comforting truth that many seldom consider. As the risen and exalted Christ, He is the prosecutor and judge, but He is also our Advocate with the Father. The same Jesus -- God's Son made man, who took the guilt and burden of our sins upon Himself and suffered and died upon the cross -- is also risen from the dead and exalted to the right hand of God the Father. And what is He doing for us as our exalted Savior? He's interceding for us before the Father with His own precious blood, shed for us upon the cross as full payment for the sins of all!

Since Christ Jesus, the judge of all the earth, died for all our sins and rose again, since He now represents us and intercedes for us before God the Father in heaven with His own precious blood, need we fear that He will condemn us on the Last Day? Need we be afraid of the final judgment? No, as the Bible says, "And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world" (1 John 2:1-2).

Who can accuse you before the Father? Only Jesus! But He died for you, rose again and now intercedes for you in heaven with his holy, precious blood shed for the sins of the world. Through faith in Christ Jesus as your Savior and Advocate, you have nothing to fear!

O dearest Jesus, You died for my sins, rose again and are now over all at God's right hand. Thank You for being my Advocate and winning my pardon with Your precious blood. Amen.

Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.