WEEKLY DEVOTION: All are sinful but justified undeservedly through the redemption in Christ Jesus

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

— “For all sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus,” Rom. 3:23-24 (Read all of chapter 3)

The law makes it clear that we have all sinned and are guilty before the LORD God. None of us measures up to the righteousness God requires of us.

The Bible tells us (Rom. 3:10-18): “‘There is none righteous, not one!’ There is none that understands, there is ‘not one that seeks after God. All turned away, they became worthless together, not one is doing goodness, not so much as one!’ ‘Their throat is an opened grave;’ “they used deceit with their tongues; the poison of asps is under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery are in their way; and they did not know a way of peace; there is no fear of God before their eyes.’” (Psa. 14:1-3; 5:9; 140:3; 10:7; Isa. 59:7, 8; Psa. 36:1)

The law stops our mouths from all boasting because it reveals our utter sinfulness and failure to live up to the righteous demands of God’s commandments. It shows the judgment of God we all deserve. “By works of law not one of all flesh will be justified before Him, for through law is full knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:20; cf. Psa. 143:2).

But there is a righteousness apart from our keeping of the law (v. 21). It is an imputed righteousness which is ours through faith in Messiah Jesus.

Jesus Christ fulfilled all the righteous and holy demands of God’s law for us. He lived a holy and sinless life for us in His thoughts, desires, words and deeds. And Jesus made full atonement for our sins and the sins of all the world when He suffered and died upon the cross, was forsaken and condemned of God the Father in our stead (cf. Matt. 27:46). And Jesus rose again on the third day, proving that God accepted His sacrifice for sin (cf. Rom. 4:25; 1 Cor. 15:3-4).

The Bible tells us that we are “justified freely by His grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation through faith in His blood, for a showing forth of His righteousness through the passing by of the sins that had taken place before, in the forbearance of God, for the showing forth of His righteousness in the present time, for His being just and justifying the one that is of the faith of Jesus” (Rom. 3:24-26).

Thus, all of us have sinned and come short of God’s glory, but we are declared forgiven, just and righteous because of the holy life and innocent sufferings and death of Christ Jesus in our stead. The law of God, which reveals God’s holy will for us, reveals our utter sinfulness and shortcoming in regard to being righteous and acceptable in God’s sight. The Gospel reveals the righteousness of Christ Jesus and the forgiveness and life which are ours in Jesus’ name.

I have sinned, O God, and deserve only Your wrath and punishment. Forgive my sin for Jesus’ sake, and grant me a place in Your everlasting kingdom. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture quotations from Green’s Literal Translation (LITV). Scripture quoted by permission. Copyright 1993 by Jay P. Green Sr., All rights reserved. Jay P. Green Sr., Lafayette, IN. U.S.A. 47903]

Community, Pages 7 on 07/25/2012