Imagine the final day. All of humanity stands before the great throne of God, the ultimate Judge. Every life’s record is called to be examined. This is the moment of judgment.
Now, you are there, and you stand with all the rest. The accuser, Satan, is there, and he’s eager to present the case against you. He has a perfect record of all your failures, all the laws you broke, all the sins you committed, right up until your last day on Earth. He is ready to lay them all out and demand your condemnation.
But you are not standing there alone.
Jesus is standing with you.
When the Judge asks for your record, the accuser eagerly steps forward with his list of all your failures. But as he does, Jesus steps in between you and the accuser.
The Judge doesn’t look at the accuser’s list. He doesn’t even look at your past. The Judge only looks at Jesus, and He sees that Jesus has already paid the full penalty for all your sins on the cross.
Then, the Judge looks at you, and He sees that you are completely covered by Jesus’s perfect righteousness—a righteousness that was credited to you the moment you believed. It’s like you’re wearing a white, perfect robe that Jesus gave you.
The Judge then declares you “Not Guilty.” He says to you, “My child, you are holy. You have my Son’s righteousness. There is no spot or stain on you.”
And with that declaration, the gates of heaven open for you.
Heaven is not a place you earn by having a good record. Heaven is a place of perfect holiness, and the only way to get in is to be holy. Since you can never achieve that on your own, Jesus gives you His righteousness as a gift.
So, when you “stand before judgment with him,” it means you’re not standing there on your own merit. You are standing there on His. Your holiness is not a temporary feeling; it’s a permanent legal and spiritual reality. Your sins were put on Him, and His perfect life was put on you. That is the only thing that gets you into heaven. The judgment is not about your life; it’s about His. And because of Him, you are welcomed home.
