Our scripture this morning is Romans 3:22-26.
“We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 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. 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, 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.”
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (v. 23). It’s a sad but true commentary on our human condition. We have all failed to live as God intended, we have all made wrong choices. None of us are perfect.
However, God in His mercy has made a way for us to be forgiven and made right with Him again. The theological term for this is justifying grace. Through Christ’s sacrifice for us, we are redeemed and renewed. When we turn to God in repentance, He sets aside our transgressions and we become part of His plan to restore His people.
Our faith in Jesus leads us back to a loving relationship with God and our brothers and sisters. It is not easy; He told us there will be obstacles and resistance from an unbelieving world. Through whatever we face, He is with us by the presence of the Holy Spirit, guiding and strengthening us to go to the world in His name.
Gracious God, we are thankful that through Your love and forgiveness, we may be reunited with You. Bless us to be energetic in our faith, sharing the Good News with everyone. Amen.