At our right hand is our accuser, but at God’s right hand is our Advocate. And for every argument the devil speaks against us, Jesus speaks a greater one. He not only died to remove our sins, and he not only rose with his finished work in hand — glorious events of the ancient past — but he also lives now and forever to plead his people’s cause.

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died — more than that, who was raised — who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:33–34)

The devil is not only a liar who seeks to deceive us, a tempter who seeks to ensnare us, and a murderer who seeks to kill us. He is an accuser who seeks to condemn us.

The very name Satan means “accuser.” Hence we read in Revelation of “the accuser of our brothers . . . who accuses them day and night before our God” (Revelation 12:10). In his misery, the devil not only loves company — he demands it. He labors night and day to surround himself with the condemned.

And for those whom he cannot condemn (because they are in Christ), he labors night and day to destroy their spiritual peace. No matter how much these saints hate their sin and long to please their God, the devil will strive to blot out the light of God’s favor. He will meet them at midnight with visions of God’s wrath. He will send them deep within themselves to scrutinize every motive and feeling. He will whisper alongside all the promises of God, “But does this really apply to a sinner like you?”

Our only safety in such moments is to lift our eyes again to the “God who justifies,” remembering that “Christ Jesus is the one who died — more than that, who was raised — who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us” (Romans 8:33–34). Christ died. Christ was raised. Christ is interceding. These three assurances, grasped in faith, raise a shield against every accusation of the evil one.

Christ Who Died

The devil’s accusations would be easier to dismiss if they were manifestly false. The trouble is that they carry so much truth. We are sinful. We are guilty. We do deserve condemnation. We will never find peace, then, by arguing for our innocence.

Peace instead will come as we remind Satan that “Christ Jesus is the one who died” (Romans 8:34). Yes, we are sinful, but Christ has died for sinners (Romans 5:8). Yes, we are guilty, but Christ’s blood covers our guilt (Romans 3:24–25). Yes, we deserve condemnation, but Christ was condemned in our place (Romans 8:3).

Read More