Romans 3: 23-26 NLT 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.
God’s love for us provided the means by which not only are our sins forgiven but also eliminated. He did this legally by making Jesus a ransom! A ransom is the price that is paid to redeem or liberate one from the misery and penalty of sin. We are “released by ransom” from sin because of our belief in Jesus!
God no longer deals with you as a sinner. This means, through Christ, He is now able to pour out His unrestrained love upon you. He doesn’t withhold His goodness from you because you miss the mark! I know for some this may be difficult to accept but remember God’s grace (the UNMERITED goodness of God) made this available through Jesus and we will only reap the benefits of it when we have the appropriate correspondence. The appropriate correspondence is belief! The day you gave your heart to Christ, you became the “Righteousness of God” and are no longer a sinner.
When I first begin to hear about grace, it just seemed too good to be true. My mind would be consumed with this question: how will God deal with my sin as a believer? Here is the answer in case you too are thinking the same. He has dealt with your sin once and for all through the body of Jesus (1 Peter 3:18). The penalty has already been paid and you can go on to now live this abundant life.
Prayer for the Journey
God, thank you for sending Jesus as a ransom for me and providing the way to be reconnected back to you. I am convinced that nothing can separate me from your love and goodness, not even sin! You paid the price for my sin so that I may experience your forever abounding and unrestrained love. Help me not to limit your goodness being displayed in my life by feeling that I too have to pay a price for missing the mark. I am reminded that Jesus has already paid the price for me to live this newness of life.
Did you have a chance to watch last week's live? If not click here. It will be a blessing to you! We discussed how "Sanctification is NOT a process."
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