“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-26)
Beloved, Although God will be glorified in His righteous judgment on sin and wickedness, God will also be glorified in His divine mercy upon those who believe the gospel message and turn from their sin to embrace Jesus Christ as their Lord and Master. This is VERY GOOD NEWS! We do not have to live under the condemnation of our rebellion before God. We can be reconciled to God but it has to be on God’s terms and not ours. Romans 3 clearly tells us that ALL have sinned but it also tells us clearly that it is from this same group of people that God redeems those who turn to Jesus in utter dependence. The important point here is that God has initiated this transaction. It is His grace that is offered as a gift to those who believe. It is not as if we show up at God’s doorstep ready to gain His favor like a trick-or-treater does; holding out some sort of bag, waiting for candy. No, God is already aware of our sinful rebellion that is in fact our current dilemma; however, God is also aware of our need for redemption and He is not waiting at His doorstep but He is in the middle of the street giving candy to those He chooses to give it to. And just so that we don’t misunderstand the gift that was given, it is not cheap candy but rather, it is the very life of God’s own Son who in fact died to make all this possible. The key to all this is faith. None of what has been said about God’s grace matters without faith. Faith is the certainty of things hoped for and the assurance of things unseen and although you may not fully understand what all this means, it is the fact that you are willing to accept what God says without fully comprehending everything that is the very basis of faith. Simply put, are you willing to trust what God says and stake your life on it? That is what it means to be justified as a gift of His grace.
Word for the weak
Faith, (4102) πίστις [pistis /pis•tis/] n f. faith, assurance; conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it. 1a relating to God. The conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ. A strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God. Belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same. 2 fidelity, faithfulness. 2a the character of one who can be relied on.
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