Do you feel that there are some people who have done such terrible things that they could never go to heaven when they die? Perhaps some terrible serial killer, child abuser, or a brutal dictator. We look at their life and the crimes they committed, and feel that no, God can never accept them. Or maybe you feel that, even though you might not fall into any of those categories, you still feel that you’ll never make it to heaven after some of the things you’ve done. Perhaps you are on the other side of that coin, and feel that you’ve been a pretty good character throughout life. Your checklist is marked off in all the right categories - church activities, all the right community organizations, school boards, check, check, check. You’re a good upstanding citizen and church member, certainly there’s a nice spot in heaven for you. Let’s take a look at what God has to say in our Scripture passage today from the Book of Romans.
As we read through this passage, we can see right away that God will accept all who believe (vs. 22). God will accept anybody, literally anybody, who comes to faith in His Son Jesus Christ as their Savior. This righteousness that God is giving out has nothing to do with whether a person has done all sorts of good deeds, or even kept the Old Testament Law. It all depends on Jesus. God will give His righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, and it is available to everyone, no matter who they are or what they’ve done. This is God’s mercy for us.
We all need our sins taken care of because they separate us from God, who is perfect and right. God made His Son, who never sinned, the offering for our sins, so that we would be made right with Him (II Corinthians 5:21). Jesus makes us righteous, and puts us in a right relationship with God. It is His Blood that is the only true and permanent offering for sin that is acceptable with God, not any good deeds that we do, nor any Old Testament sacrifices that could be offered. It is with Jesus’ Blood that we can have assurance of our salvation. It doesn’t come by human logic. It is a matter of faith. Do we believe God, or do we not? Believe God’s Word, and not our own thinking (I John 5:13). The gift of a personal relationship with God is imparted to those who trust Christ.
No one can claim they have never done wrong, that they are pure and innocent (vs. 23). We may look good to others, but we can never attain God’s standard of righteousness. Everyone has sinned. All sin makes us sinners. All sin cuts us off from a holy God. It leads to death because it disqualifies us from living with God. However, the good news is that through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, God has redeemed us. He will forgive us if we come to Him in faith.
Christ’s death satisfies the Father’s righteous demands (vs. 25-26). It becomes appropriated (becomes ours) only when we put our faith and trust in Him. Jesus died in our place, for our sins. God declared Jesus’ death to be the appropriate, designated sacrifice for our sins. Jesus Christ stands in our place, having paid the penalty of death for our sin. He completely satisfied God’s demands, bringing pardon, deliverance, and freedom to all who believe.
In verse 24 we read the word “justified”, a form of the word “justification”. Justified means being declared righteous. It signifies the believer’s spiritual legal standing before God. For those who have accepted Jesus as Savior, they are justified, which is accomplished by God’s grace, His unmerited favor. We are declared “not guilty”. All charges have been removed from the record. When God forgives our sin, our record is wiped clean. From God’s perspective, it is as though we had never sinned. It was Jesus’ death which paid for this. The sinner is released on the basis that Jesus paid the price.
In closing, I would say to all who read this - Trust Christ to take away your sins. Put your confidence in Him to forgive your sins, and to make you right with God. He will then empower you to live the way He taught us. Jesus Christ is the only valid One in which all mankind must place their faith in order to live with God for eternity. Jesus purchased our salvation and a place in heaven for us, and the price was His Blood.
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