“Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. [All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment. It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time (in the now season) that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has [true] faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:23-26 AMPC
Grace Perspective:
Justified, declared innocent, and redeemed. What do we need to be declared innocent of and saved from? Ourselves. Our sin. Rejecting God. The desire to do life our way without acknowledging God, Who created us in His image. We want to do life our way and do our own thing without considering the consequences. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory…every single one of us.
But God….God knew from the beginning that we need saving from ourselves. From the beginning of history, in Genesis, Chapter 3, we see the foreshadowing of the Savior. No one, not the kindest or most generous, self-sacrificing person, is justified before God because of what they do. All our good works cannot pay for our sins.
What’s sin? A few that come to mind are lying, gossiping, slandering, hatred, bitterness, lust, envy, laziness, and greed. Then there’s murder, adultery, theft, drunkenness, gluttony….ugh…the list continues.
It is only through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross that we are justified. Not because of anything good or deserving in us, but because of God’s abundant grace and mercy. This verse reveals the heart of God our Father, Who sacrificed His Son for our sin. Jesus Christ willingly went to the cross and shed His blood to pay the price for our sin. When we receive this priceless gift of grace, we are cleansed from ALL OUR SIN and declared innocent in our Father’s eyes. Just as if we have never sinned, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions (sin) from us .”(Psalm 103:12) That’s gracious justification!
A Touch of Grace
Where do you fall short of God’s glory?
What will you do with His gracious justification?
Grace Application:
Jesus alone can pay the price for your sin, for my sin. He drank from a cup that held the bitterest liquid. He willingly swallowed the poison of sin so that we may be justified before God. Charles Spurgeon says, “But His love for His people was so strong, that He took the cup in both His hands, and ‘At one tremendous draught of love, He drank damnation dry,’”[i]
If you haven’t turned your heart to God, seeking forgiveness for your sin, ask yourself why. Christ already paid the penalty for all sin, yours and mine. There is nothing more important than this because it determines where you will spend eternity, Heaven or Hell. Today, choose life, eternal life, and not eternal death. Receive the justifying grace that Christ offers to all who call on His name, repenting of sin.
Once we receive His forgiveness, we no longer fall short of His glory, for we are forever in Christ Jesus. So come to Him and receive this priceless gift.
Prayer:
Gracious Father, I come to you in the precious name of Jesus Christ, my Savior, thankful for gracious justification. I confess that I sin and fall short of Your glory. Thank You, Jesus, for redeeming me from the penalty of sin. Forgive me when I make light of this priceless gift and keep my heart tender, so I am quick to repent. So help me, Lord, be a bearer of the gospel of grace so that You are glorified. Amen.
[i] https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/0126.cfm?a=1049024
**Today, as you read this, I pray that you will know you are in Christ Jesus. If you have any doubt, please call out to God, so all doubt is erased. Today is a good day to be assured of salvation in Christ Jesus. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at graceisdawning@gmail.com**