Not Guilty: Love Paid the Price – Part 1

Zaressa Richardson
2 days ago
7 min read

No appeal needed. Don’t reopen a closed case.

Foundational Verse:"Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies..." Romans 8:33–34

Week 1:

Charged with Sin → Pardoned by Love

Welcome, Friend! I hope all is well with you. How are you really doing? I’d love to hear from you. Drop me a DM in the app or send a quick note through this form. I’m right here on the journey with you.

Ok, just a quick check-in.No really, I’m serious. Don’t leave me on read! Lol.

This month, we’re headed to court, but not the kind you’re used to. Our new series is called Not Guilty: Love Paid the Price.

Each week, we’ll walk through a different charge the enemy tries to bring against us.We’ll expose his lies, dismantle his arguments using the Word of God, and remind him of the blood of Jesus, the only evidence that matters.

Prefer to listen instead?

🎧 You can catch this week’s message on the podcast.

Have You Ever Been to Court?

Back in the day, I worked on dockets for a family court. It was one of the most humbling roles I’ve ever held. I sat quietly as stories unfolded mothers pleading for protection, fathers explaining their inability to pay support, and pain hanging heavy in the air.

I watched lives shift with one swing of the gavel. So yes, I’ve had my share of courtroom visits. Not fun.

What about you? Even if you’ve never been to court, maybe you’ve seen the setup in a movie or TV show.

Can you picture it? The plaintiff, the defendant, the lawyers.

The raised bench, the quiet tension, The defense, the prosecution, The evidence, The verdict.

Because spiritually speaking, we’ve all been there. The enemy loves to drag our name into the courtroom of guilt.

But here’s the truth: He doesn’t get the final say.

Let’s Dive into the Fine Print...

This week, we’re focusing on sin.Not just in theory, not just the Sunday school answer.I want you to really sit with this word.

Sin in Hebrew is “chattat” → it means to miss the mark.It’s not just bad behavior. It’s a condition, a separation, a spiritual violation of divine law.

We often gloss over it. We say, “Yeah, I know, Jesus covered my sin.”

But let’s take it back to the courtroom and put it on the record.Let’s give that sin a name, the way the accuser tries to do. Let’s look at it like a legal charge.

Because when we recognize the weight of the charge, we can fully understand the depth of the love that paid for it.

Who’s in the Courtroom?

Let’s lay it out so you can see what’s really happening in the spirit:

You → the Defendant
The Accuser → Satan, filing the charges
Your Advocate → Jesus, the Righteous One (1 John 2:1)
The Judge → God, your Father, full of justice and mercy
The Evidence → The cross, the blood, the empty tomb
The Law → God’s holy standard
The Word → Living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12)

The Docket Is Open

Court is now in session.

Case Title: The Accuser of the Brethren vs. You

Charge: Sin

Filed by: Satan, the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10)

Courtroom: The spiritual realm

The Charges Against God’s People (US)

Let’s take a look at what’s been written up on the docket:

Lying
Lust
Jealousy
Gossip
Stealing
Unforgiveness
Bitterness
Sexual sin
Addiction
Rebellion
Pride
Unbelief
Idolatry
Insert your secret here: _______

These are the charges the enemy tries to submit as evidence.

But here’s the thing, friend, he doesn’t even have the legal right to bring this into court unless we give him permission.

You might be wondering, “What does permission look like?”

The Bible puts it plainly:

“Do not give the devil a foothold.” — Ephesians 4:27

Sometimes the problem isn’t that the enemy is powerful,It’s that we’ve left the door cracked open.

These aren’t just random mistakes. These aren’t just weak moments.

He brings them as legal accusations, hoping to build a case so strong, you’ll start to believe it yourself.

Because here’s the truth….

We often accept the lie when we don’t realize the authority we’ve been given to confront it.

Let’s Make It Plain

Imagine this: You’ve been given a badge and the full power of Heaven’s law behind it, but you never read the manual. So when someone tries to arrest you illegally, you don’t even know how to push back.

That’s how it is in the spirit. You’ve been given authority. But if you don’t know the truth, you won’t use it.

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” — John 8:32

But here’s the thing…

It’s not just any truth.

It’s not “your truth.”

You know how people say, "Well, this is my truth... they did that, so I did this, it’s just my truth.”

Nope.

There is only one truth → God’s truth.

And His truth:

Does not shift with emotions
Does not bend under pressure
Does not need defending
It stands

And in the courtroom of Heaven,It’s the only standard that matters.

A Biblical Case:

Joshua the High Priest

Let’s go to the book of Zechariah.

Please, hear me this is just one of many courtroom scenes we see in Scripture, but it gives us a clear picture of what happens in the spirit when the enemy brings charges against God’s people(US).

In Zechariah chapter 3, we are brought into a divine courtroom. Joshua the high priest is standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan is standing at his right side, doing what he does best: accusing.

“Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.” — Zechariah 3:1

Hold up, notice where Satan is standing. In a traditional courtroom, the plaintiff, the one bringing the charges, usually sits on the right side of the judge.

Interesting, right? That detail is not random. It confirms that this is a legal setting in the spirit.

Let’s Set the Scene

Before we go deeper, here’s a little context.

Zechariah was a prophet, his name means “The Lord remembers.” He was sent to encourage and correct the people of Israel after they returned from exile.

Think of him as a spiritual motivator who had to deliver hard truth with hope.

His message?

“Return to Me.”

In other words: Repent.

That call is still valid and urgent today.

God gave Zechariah a series of visions, and this one was meant to show His people that He had not forgotten them, even in their unclean state. He was calling them, and us, to turn from evil ways and stop giving the enemy legal ground. Remember that foothold we talked about earlier? It all connects.

Back to the Scene… The Bible

Joshua, high priest, the spiritual leader of the people, is standing in filthy garments. His clothing represents the sin of the people, their rebellion, their brokenness, and yes, his own shortcomings.

And Satan? He’s ready to pounce. He’s pointing at every flaw, every failure, every reason why Joshua has no business standing in a place of spiritual authority.

But then…..God steps in.

And what happens next?

It’s powerful.

“The Lord said to Satan, ‘The Lord rebuke you, Satan! … Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?’ Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, ‘Take off his filthy clothes.’ Then he said to Joshua, ‘See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.’” — Zechariah 3:2–4

God didn’t pretend the garments weren’t dirty.

He didn’t ignore the evidence.

He removed it.

He didn’t excuse the sin.

He covered it.

He didn’t disqualify Joshua.

He restored him.

And friend, that’s exactly what Jesus does for us.

Grace in Action

When the accuser brings up your past, your failures, or even your secret sin,

Jesus doesn’t plead your innocence.

He points to the price He already paid.

“See, I have taken away your sin…” — Zechariah 3:4

Friend, this is grace in action. This is what it looks like when love answers the charge.

The charges were real.

The guilt was valid.

But God stepped in.

He didn’t argue the filth, He replaced it.

He didn’t deny the guilt, He removed it.

He didn’t defend the sin, He defeated it.

Now It’s Time for the VERDICT

NOT GUILTY.

The blood speaks a better word.

Our Defender,

Our Lawyer,

Our Redeemer,

Our Advocate, has spoken.

And what does He say?

“I already paid for that.”

“But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8

While we were still guilty, He paid the price.

And then the Word declares:

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1

Not less condemnation.

No condemnation.

None. At all.

The case is closed. Do not reopen what Heaven has already settled.

Prayer

Glory, glory! Oh my Lord, thank You, Father!

My soul worships You.

Thank You for loving me.

Thank You for not just closing the case, but for rendering it void by way of the blood.

Thank You for washing me white as snow.

I am made new in You!

Thank You for taking my case.

Thank You for silencing the voice of the accuser.

Holy Spirit, help me walk in this reality every single day.

Even on the days that are challenging, remind me that my case is null and void.

I have the power to resist all temptation.

Thank You that sin does not reign in me.

Thank You, Lord.

Glory to Your name.

I will forever praise You.

I am not guilty.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Next on the Docket: Next week, we’re tackling the charge of shame. See you in court.