Posted by Romans 3:23-24
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
We all have this in common, none of us can measure up to God’s standard of righteousness, and all of us had to be justified freely to make it happen. You and I bring nothing to the table when it comes to this new life in Christ.
What Amazing Thoughts
I was thinking about Romans 5:19, and how through Adam’s disobedience we all were made sinners. What an astounding thought, we had nothing to do with the fallen nature we were born with. We were given unrighteousness, and we live that way naturally.
Then I considered an even more astounding thought, how through Christ’s obedience we are made righteous! Think of that, through no actions of our own we were born sinful, and through no efforts of our own we were born again righteous!
Have you ever taken a moment to look at what the Lord has done for you? Looking at the big picture of what the Lord has done for all humanity? it’s amazing. Adam gave us the gift of unrighteousness, and Christ gives us righteousness as a gift.
We were condemned and didn’t know it. When we were made aware of it through the gospel, grace and mercy brought us the free gift of righteousness. By a simple gift of faith were are all justified in God’s sight, even before we understood what that meant!
Redemption: A Done Deal
God poured out His grace on you in abundance, He gave you faith to believe and receive. Your guilt and shame have been removed, and His Spirit has poured out the love of Christ on you!
Everything you can possibly think of has been taken care of. Whatever you needed to be made right with God has been done, whatever you may need in the future, God has already taken care of. From start to finish you’ve been completely provided for!
You were dead in your sins, and had no choice but to let God save you. There was nothing you could have done to save yourself. Paul writes; “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
“My grace is sufficient for you” isn’t a promise, it’s a fact.
How is God’s grace sufficient? First, He does it all. Second, Grace isn’t merely an idea, it’s God working in and through you all the time. Grace is God’s unfathomable power at work accomplishing all that’s necessary on your behalf, completely independent of any help from you.
You believed and received by grace, you’re justified, sanctified, and glorified by grace. Saved, healed, delivered, and secured by the power of God’s grace.
Even your abilty to obey God, stop sinning, and glorify Him with your life comes by grace. Paul told Titus that God’s grace has appeared to all, teaching and training us to deny and refrain from all ungodliness. (Titus 2:11).
You’re chosen, gifted, guided, and empowered by God to glorify Him by accomplishing all He designed you to do – by grace.
So thank Him for His amazing grace, and when you consider that He who began this good work in you, will continue working until it’s completed, you’ll be Encouraged! -JSP