Being Justified Freely By His Grace - Part 678

Today is a special period of time for those who believe in Jesus. For one, we are living in the dispensation of grace. Second, we know that each and every one of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) Third, we are able to understand from the Old Testament that whatsoever things the Law stated was intended specifically to those people and tribes who were originally under the Law.  Fourth, the scriptures state that we "through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." (I Peter 1:5)

The Law then was given as a schoolmaster so that we today would be knowledgeable in what practices and thoughts constituted sin. As a consequence, we know that every one of us is guilty before God. (Romans 3:19) Therefore, under the old covenant, none of us were justified in His sight because none of us were capable of adhering to the Law in its entirety. Even the ten commandments were a challenge.

But now, the "righteousness of God" is manifest, being witnessed beforehand by the Law and the prophets. Now, believers in Jesus are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Him -- Christ Jesus -- whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood -- to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. (Romans 3:24-26)

His love for us does not end there. "Even the righteousness of God is -- by faith in Jesus Christ -- unto all and upon all them that believe." (Romans 3:23) For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves -- it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8) Romans 3:24 states, "and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ." Even when we were dead in transgressions, we were made alive with Christ. "It is by grace [we] are saved." (Ephesians 2:5) Who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (I Peter 1:5)

The question that emerges then is this. If our sins are forgiven because of the precious blood Jesus shed on the cross, His grace, His mercy and His love, and similarly, our faith in Him, where is the boasting? By what Law are we saved? Are we redeemed by obeying the Law(s) given by Moses? Or is our salvation of good works? The answer is no -- neither.

The righteousness of God that we neither deserved or achieved has been revealed independent of the Law and the old covenant prophets. A righteousness that is not our own. We could not earn Jesus' love. But as many of us that are baptized into Jesus Christ -- according to the scriptures -- are baptized into His death. Therefore, we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life. (Romans 6:1-4)

"For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection. We who once were dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more. Death has no more dominion over Him." (Romans 6:5-10)

For in that He died, He died unto sin once. But in that He lives, He lives unto God. The righteousness of God being Christ Himself who came to fulfill the Law unto all and upon all them that believe. There is no greater love story. In the beginning God. (Genesis 1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God ... and the Word became flesh." (John 1:1-14)

This is why a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. (Romans 3:27) This is why we become perfect and holy in God's sight when we believe in Jesus the Christ. The promised Messiah. The Bible states, "Seek first the Kingdom and all His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you" so that you too can experience His goodness.

Ask Jesus into your life today. Read His Word. Stand in the offering plate.