Romans 3:24-25a
and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.
Reflection
This passage from Romans explains further how Jesus’ death and resurrection worked for our salvation. The keywords in this passage are underlined.
· We are justified. When we are justified, God looks at us “just as if we had never sinned’ and “just as if we had always obeyed.” Another way to look at being justified is that we are simply declared not guilty.
· This happens by God’s grace. Grace is receiving something that we don’t deserve. Elsewhere, grace is referred to as a “gift from God.”
· When you think about redemption, think about a slave (us as slaves to sin) being purchased by a Master for a price. When that happens, we are redeemed, our chains are broken, we are freed.
· Christ’s sacrifice atones for our sins. This atonement (think of it being at-one-ment) repairs the broken relationship with God that is created by our sinfulness. We are “at one” with God (having peace with God where there was once wrath).
· And this all is for us simply by having faith – believing that what Jesus did for us is all that needs to happen to restore our relationship with God.
This passage explains what Jesus did, how it works, and most importantly how it is for YOU! How does that make you feel (being declared not guilty, at one with God, set free from your sins, and all by simply believing that this free gift is for YOU)?
