Romans 3 (NLT) Big Idea God is the Supremely just judge and we are the guilty defendants. The Accusation: Our Before God Romans 3:23 (NLT) For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Romans 2:5 (NLT) But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. Romans 6:23 (NLT) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. The Defense: Advocate Jesus Takes Place 1 John 2:1 (NLT) My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. Romans 3:24-25 (NLT) 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. The Verdict: Righteous Romans 5:1 (NLT) Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. “Jesus takes our ‘rap sheet’ and gives the Judge his ‘resume’.” The Accuser: The of God Revelation 12:10 (NLT) Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last— salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our God day and night. The Implications: as Justified People Romans 5:21 (NLT) So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 8:1–2 (NLT) So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. What Now? Joyfully live FROM your acceptance, not fearfully FOR it. Romans 8:34 (NLT) Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Live your life as a grateful response to His grace.