For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.” vs. 28
Romans 3:19-23
Paul believed that all people had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But he also held that they had all been justified by God’s grace as a gift, through the redemption that had occurred in Christ Jesus. He further adds that the benefits of this great gift are made effective in faith. Paul’s add-on has frequently been misunderstood through the years. Some now insist that folks cannot be saved unless they believe, and preachers make great efforts to persuade people to make that step of faith. That kind of thinking is very close to being true, but it can give people the impression that the act of receiving Jesus as a personal savior is what gives them salvation. And that most certainly is not true. Salvation is a given. It has happened through Jesus a long time ago, and it is ours as a gift by the grace of God. How much better it is when people simply receive the gift with Thanksgiving, and make no effort to claim any credit for themselves. While faith is important, and even crucial, for experiencing joy in daily living, we who call Jesus “Lord” are children of grace, and all the glory should go to God, the great architect of grace and mercy from eternity!
Thought for the Day: What is grace centered living?
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