Who’s Accusing You?

Who’s Accusing You?

Through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God.

Acts 13:38-39

He has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

Colossians 1: 22

The Accuser, Satan, . . . replied to the LORD, . . . “A man will give up everything he has to save his life. But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!”

Job 2:1, 4-5

We all make mistakes that we have to ask forgiveness for. Isn’t it a relief when someone gives you the gift of forgiveness? But have you ever had someone tell you that you are forgiven and then bring up your offense again just to rub it in or make sure you haven’t forgotten what you did?

That’s something God never does. The Bible says that when God forgives us, he will never again remember our sins. It’s not that our all-knowing Father forgets, but rather that he chooses not to bring up our sin to hold it against us. So when we hear a voice reminding us of past failures that we’ve already confessed to God and received forgiveness for, we can be confident that it is not God’s voice we’re hearing, but Satan’s. It is Satan, who is called “the Accuser,” who reminds us of our past sins to make us feel guilty.

But why should you listen to his bringing up your past if God does not do so? You have to choose who you are going to listen to. Will you listen to your enemy, the Accuser, who wants to ruin you and use you and deceive you by whispering in your ear reminders of your failures? Or will you listen to God, who reminds you of his abundant forgiveness?

DISCUSSION STARTERS

What is it like to feel guilty?

What’s the difference between the feeling of guilt and the feeling of conviction?

Why would Satan want to accuse you? What is he trying to do?