Come, my soul. Stop and think about this. Because you believe in Jesus, you are actually, effectively cleared of all guilt. You have been led out of your prison cell. You are no longer shackled like a slave. The chains of the law cannot hold you anymore. You are free from sin's dominion, and you can walk anywhere you please as a free person. Your Savior's blood has secured your full release.

You have the right to approach your Father's throne. No flames of vengeance wait there to terrify you now. No flaming sword bars the way. Justice cannot strike the innocent, and that is what you are.

All your disabilities have been removed. You once could not bear to look at your Father's face. Now you can gaze at him freely. You could not speak with him. Now you have bold access to his presence. The fear of hell once hung over you like a storm cloud. But where is that fear now? How can there be punishment for the guiltless? The one who believes is not condemned and cannot be punished.

But here is the staggering truth: All the privileges you might have enjoyed if you had never sinned? They are yours now through justification. Every blessing you would have earned by keeping the law perfectly, and more besides, belongs to you. Why? Because Christ kept it for you. All the love, all the acceptance that perfect obedience could have won from God... it's yours. Christ was perfectly obedient on your behalf. He has credited all his righteousness to your account, making you exceedingly rich through him who became exceedingly poor for your sake.

Oh, what a debt of love and gratitude you owe your Savior! Listen to the old hymn: "A debtor to mercy alone, of covenant mercy I sing. I don't fear to bring my person and offerings, clothed in your righteousness. The terrors of law and of God have nothing to do with me anymore. My Savior's obedience and blood hide all my sins from view."