Justified by God's Free Grace Alone

Readings:
II Chronicles 34
Romans 3:21-26

Focus:
Romans 3:24: "All are justified by God's free grace alone, through his act of liberation in the person of Christ Jesus."

The great message of the book of Romans is that we are justified--made to be as if we were just, or righteous, or perfectly good--not by what we do, but by God's grace. God's grace is a free gift to us of salvation--salvation to live with meaning and purpose, and to live eternally with him.

This gift of grace comes to us through our acknowledgement of what he has done for us in Jesus Christ. As verse 22 says, "it (righteousness) is effective through faith in Christ for all who have such faith--all, without distinction."

It's an amazing gift, because none of us deserve it. As verse 23 says, "all alike have sinned." But, without distinction, no matter who we are or what we have done, God offers us this free grace, and he does it by becoming human and dying for us. That's how much God loves us. And all we have to do is acknowledge it and turn our lives over to him. Not a bad deal at all. I'll take it!