Justified by Faith
Paul, the writer of the letter to the church in Rome, covers the details of what is known as “the Gospel message”—a message that was handed down to them. It's packed with deep theological truths that are meant to shape the way Christians live.
One of the central components to the Gospel is that salvation comes through faith alone. That means we are saved by the power of God through believing and trusting in Jesus. Every Christian comes to God through faith—not through good deeds or by trying to earn salvation.
Paul says that we have peace with God by our faith in Jesus. Prior to that, we were considered ungodly and unrighteous—because we would live our lives in our own power, doing our own things. This led to separation from God.
However, by faith in Jesus, we are justified before Him. This means that through Jesus’ own right-living, we are made right before Him. Even though we still make mistakes, we can stand innocent before God because of Jesus.
It’s through being justified that we become children of God. We can have a relationship with Him because of our status in Christ. We have access to God Himself, knowing that He is transforming us through our relationship with Him.
This means that none of us can brag or boast about being a child of God. We all receive grace freely through faith. So right now, take a few moments to thank God for the incredible gift of salvation that He offers you. Then, reflect on what it means to be included in His family.
“Princes are hanged up by their hand: The faces of elders were not honoured. They took the young men to grind, And the children fell under the wood. The elders have ceased from the gate, The young men from their musick. The joy of our heart is ceased; Our dance is turned into mourning. The crown is fallen from our head: Woe unto us, that we have sinned! For this our heart is faint; For these things our eyes are dim. Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, The foxes walk upon it. Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; Thy throne from generation to generation. Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, And forsake us so long time? Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; Renew our days as of old. But thou hast utterly rejected us; Thou art very wroth against us.”
Lamentations 5:12-22 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/lam.5.12-22.KJV