Grace that Forgives Sin

September 19, 2021

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-2).

Martin Luther (November 10, 1483 – February 18, 1546) was an Augustinian monk in the Roman Catholic Church. He had a problem with Romans 1:17 which states, For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” He struggled with the dilemma, “Who, after all, could ‘live by faith’ but those who were already righteous?” The text was clear on the matter: the righteous shall live by faith. After much prayer, fasting, and meditation, the truth became clear to Martin Luther that it wasn’t the righteous who live by faith, rather it is the righteousness of God through which the righteous live by faith, and that is a gift from God! The Gospel became clear to him. Salvation was not through the Roman Church, but by God’s grace through faith.

The Gospel focuses on justification (Romans 5:1). Justification is the declaration of God that the guilty sinner has been forgiven of his/her sin and is now acceptable to God. A person is no longer a spiritual criminal against God, but a spiritual child of God. This declaration of God comes immediately upon the exercise of one’s repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Why is it that God declares an unrighteous person righteous based on the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross? Because of God’s grace. It is His own free decision to save us through the atonement of Jesus.

(Rom 3:24-26) . . . being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Ephesians 1:7-9) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself.

When you take this in and chew on it for a while you will begin to realize how great God’s grace truly is regarding our sin. Think of who you were without Jesus. Think of who you are because of Jesus. Realize that the whole of who you are in Jesus Christ is the result of God’s great grace toward you. Why did He choose you to be saved? Because He loves you. Why does He love you? Because He chooses to love you. That’s His grace.

“Father, I remember the words of my mother who said to me, ‘Son, your father and I love you with all our heart and soul, but God loves you more than any love you will ever know. Do not turn away from His love, but love Him with all your heart and soul.” Father, I love You, I love Jesus, I love Your Holy Spirit with all my mind, heart, and spirit. Thank You for loving me. Amen.” 

Pastor

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