Your Daily Devotional for May 13, 2006

May 13, 2006

 

The Position of the Believer

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

 

Romans 3:24

 

As we begin our time of reflection upon God’s Word today, let us notice the word “justified” in this verse. We have been justified before the Lord. We do not have to appease God or earn His mercy. If you are saved, your position in Christ is that you have been justified through His blood. Though we were sinners, though we fell short, we have been declared righteous by the shedding of His blood.

 

None of us are righteous, as Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” There was only one man who ever walked the face of this earth who was righteous, and by the shedding of His blood, we were declared righteous. We were justified.

 

Not only were we justified but, as verse 24 states, we were justified freely. Salvation is a free gift. The world thinks of a free gift as something that you don’t have to pay for right now, but we as Christians know that God’s gift is truly free. We don’t ever have to pay for it.

 

By God’s grace, when a person trusts in Christ as their Lord and Saviour, he is acquitted in the court of heaven of all that he has ever done and all that he will ever do. He is justified by the grace of God.

 

We see in verse 24 that not only is the believer justified freely but he is redeemed through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Colossians 1:14 says, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” Aren’t you glad that God redeemed you from your sins and has prepared for you a home in heaven?

 

I remember a few years ago driving past a car dealership when I saw that read, “Buy a new Cadillac and we’ll give you free floor mats!” Isn’t that just like the world? You have to spend money to get something for “free”. My grandfather once told me that nothing in life was free. Somebody has to eventually pay for it. That is so true. Whether it is a free luncheon, or a free pen, someone has to pay for it.

 

Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t operate on this world’s standards? We would never be able to pay for our sins! Instead, the Lord sent His only Son to die for our sins. Friend, be thankful that your position as a saved individual is that you stand redeemed before God Almighty, and never cease to tell others of the free gift that God has provided for them. Where would you be today had someone not told you?

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