Freedom album cover

Mandisa – Not Guilty Lyrics

R&B

I stand accused
There's a list a mile long
Of all my sins
Of everything that I've done wrong
I'm so ashamed

There's nowhere left for me to hide
This is the day
I must answer for my life
My fate is in the Judge's hands
But then He turns to me and says

I know you, I love you
I gave My life to save you
Love paid the price for mercy
My verdict not guilty

How can it be?
I can't begin to comprehend
What kind of grace
Would take the place for all my sin?

I stand in awe
Now that I have been set free
And the tears well up
As I look at that cross
'Cause it should have been me

My fate was in the nail scarred hands
He stretched them out for me
And said

I know you, I love you
I gave My life to save you
Love paid the price for mercy
My verdict not guilty

I'm falling on my knees to thank You
With everything I am I'll praise you
So grateful for the words I heard
You say

I know you, I love you
I gave My life
I know you, I love you
I gave My life just to save you
Love paid the price for mercy
My verdict not guilty

Love paid the price for mercy
My verdict not guilty, not guilty

About This Song

"Not Guilty" is a powerful contemporary Christian R&B ballad that explores themes of divine grace, forgiveness, and redemption through a courtroom metaphor. The song follows a narrator who stands before God feeling overwhelmed by shame and guilt for their sins, expecting condemnation but instead receiving an unexpected verdict of "not guilty" through Christ's sacrificial love. Mandisa's soulful, gospel-influenced vocals convey both the weight of conviction and the overwhelming relief of grace, building from vulnerable confession to triumphant declaration. The track's smooth R&B production provides an intimate backdrop for its profound theological message about unmerited mercy. As one of Mandisa's signature songs, it resonates deeply with listeners struggling with guilt and shame, offering hope that God's love transcends human failure and that forgiveness is freely given rather than earned.

Comments (7)

  • Anonymous
    thank you for a song that express not just the grattitude for Gods love for me but helps me to go to a place of worship in me. the words is what i want to convey to myself and others love has paid the price thank you
  • Anonymous
    Can anyone tell me how to get sheet music for this song? I can't seem to find it online anywhere, just music trax
  • Anonymous
    God bless you for this song i believe he gave you this song for a purpose.you know i ask myself if god did not sent his son where would we have been what would have happen to the world if he did not love us stay bless.
  • MaryBeth Simpkins
    I was just at my local church camp a couple weeks ago, we played this song in our teen choir/orchestra, I played the clarinet. While playing this song, you can still feel the intense feeling throughout it all, I just wanted to sing along so much!
  • Debbie Anne Newsome-Miller
    This song is a great healer. Praise you Lord.
  • Dannisha Hector
    love it
  • Jonathan Hunter Fletcher
    It means that someone took the place for us when we were truly guilty and they said look I am going to take your place and I am going to let you off with the verdict of NOT GUILTY!