Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
Romans 8:33
The word “reproach” isn’t often used anymore. But it’s a pretty powerful word. It can be described as “blame conveyed in disapproval and discredit.” Or, more simply put, it is “disgrace.” Just reading those words puts a pit in my stomach—how about you? To experience reproach is no fun and brings feelings of shame and regret.
As fallen humans, we sin. Because we are separated from God, we all seek to fill our God-shaped void with any means. Maybe it’s people, things, substances, or self-idolatry. But nothing will satisfy—and, often, our pursuit becomes more and more desperate. We may feel regret, but we turn to the next thing in hopes of approval and peace. In full transparency, before I came to trust Jesus as my Lord and Savior, my life choices could fill a small book with the one-word title: Ashamed.
And Satan—the enemy of our soul—loves this. His goal is to keep us separated from God, so he hisses in our ear, day and night, about our past failures and regrets. But God provided a Way of reconciliation. Jesus Christ built a bridge between fallen mankind and God through His death and resurrection. Accepting this gift of grace brings us true peace and satisfaction.
When we admit our sinful nature, not only is He faithful to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness (1 John 1:9), but we no longer live under condemnation (Romans 8:1)! We are presented faultless before God (Jude 24). Beyond merely blameless (without blemish), we are made beyond reproach (Colossians 1:22)! This means that no one can bring a charge against us (Romans 8:33). Satan may still be hurling accusations about us to God, but, friend, none of them will stick against we whom Christ has reconciled (Revelation 12:10).
God sees us now as we’ll be in heaven when we’re glorified (that is, when we stand before Him after death). Right now, He views us clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. Our response—the way we walk through this life—is, as John MacArthur says, to “practice becoming what we are in reality before God” (Colossians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 3:18). We will continue to sin, of course, but we repent and keep moving forward in pursuit of holiness. Through our relationship with Jesus, we will not be put to shame (Romans 10:11).
Isn’t this amazing news? When we surrender to Jesus, that God-shaped void is filled. We are made new, washed as white as snow. And we can joyfully hold fast to the Truth of Psalm 34:5: We who look to Him are radiant, and our faces will never be ashamed.
Heavenly Father, thank You for making me holy and blameless. Thank You that, through Jesus, I am beyond reproach from my past, present, and future sins.
encouraged by grace 