Grace Notes – Justifying Grace
“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. What do we need to be declared innocent of? Ourselves. Our sin. Our wretched rejection of truth. Our continued desire to do life our way, without acknowledging God, Who created us in His image. We want to do life our way, do our own thing, without the consequences that come when we choose poorly. 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 would need saving from ourselves. From the beginning of the story, Genesis, Chapter 3, we see the foreshadowing of the Savior.
No one, not the most excellent, kindest, most generous, self-sacrificing person, is justified before God. All our good works fall alarmingly short in paying for our sins.
What sin? Lying, gossiping, slandering, un-forgiveness, bitterness, lust, laziness, greed, to name a few. Not to mention murder, adultery, stealing, drunkenness, the list goes on.
It is only by the gracious gift of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross that we are justified by His shed blood. Not because of anything good in us, but because of God’s grace and mercy. This verse reveals the heart of our Father, Who sacrificed His Son for our sin. Jesus Christ willingly went to the cross and shed His blood to pay the penalty we owe for sin. If we receive this priceless gift of grace, given freely, we are cleansed from ALL OUR SIN and declared innocent in our Father’s eyes.
Justified by the greatest grace there is. Come to Him and receive this priceless gift.
A touch of grace:
How do you fall short of God’s glory?
What will you do with His offer of gracious justification?
Grace Application:
Jesus went where no man could, and did what no man was capable of doing. He alone was able to bear the penalty for my sin for your 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]
Today, at this present time, if you haven’t turned your heart to God, seeking the forgiveness of sins that only He can offer, drop all you’re doing and cry out to Him. Christ has already paid the full penalty for all sin, mine and yours. There is nothing more important than this, for it determines where you will spend eternity, Heaven or Hell. Today, choose life, eternal life, 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 in Christ Jesus and have His glory to protect us from the penalty of sin. Now we fall before Him in worship, rejoicing because of His gift of justifying grace.
Prayer:
Gracious Father, Thank You for the gift of justifying grace. I confess that I sin and fall short of Your glory. Thank You, Jesus, for paying the full penalty for my sin, so that I am declared innocent in Your eyes. Forgive me for the times I make light of this priceless gift and keep my heart tender to the leading of Your Spirit so that I am quick to repent. Help me, Lord, to be a bearer of the gospel of grace so that You are glorified in my life. In the precious name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, Amen.
**Today, as you read the Word of God, I pray each of you to know for certain you are in Christ Jesus. If you have any doubt, please call out to God so all doubt may be erased. Today is a good day to be assured of salvation in Christ Jesus. If you have any questions, please contact me at graceisdawning@gmail.com**
[i] https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/0126.cfm?a=1049024