Just a Thought: If you knew me like I know me, you may never say “There goes a righteous guy.” But that is the beauty of God’s grace. You don’t have to declare me righteous because God already has! Now, don’t get me wrong. I didn’t say I was a saint and you just didn’t know it. I can promise you I am still a sinner. And, when you look at me you can prove it. But, thanks to God’s provision of grace that He has applied to my sin, He sees me as righteous. There is no fooling God. He knows I am a guilty sinner too. However, He also knows my sin debt has been paid in full by someone else. Jesus, died for my sin. Jesus paid my debt. And, through Jesus, though I am a sinner, I am declared righteous! Like a slave bought off the auction block, I have been bought by the blood of Jesus! And, by God’s gift of grace He washed my sins away with that blood. He has claimed me and called me His own. The Lord took away my sin and replaced it the righteous robe of Jesus and He will never hold me guilty of sins debt again. As Paul explains, “and [I am] justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Rom 3:24) This is the free gift of grace from God’s hand to me and all who have believed (not in) upon Jesus for the redemption of their sin and soul. God’s grace, a word Paul uses some twenty-four times in the letter of Romans, is the unmerited (unearned or able to be worked for) favor of God. God’s grace is the instrument He uses to pay the ransom price required for all, who are held by sin and Satan’s power. The death of Christ on the cross of Calvary was the price of payment for human sin which secured release from the bondage of Satan and sin for every person who trusts God’s promise of forgiveness and salvation. And this is why I can say with great confidence, if you knew me like I know me, you may never say “There goes a righteous guy.” But that is the beauty of God’s grace. You don’t have to declare me righteous because God already has! In Jesus I am safe, secure and saved for all of eternity from sins penalty and Satan’s power. Can you say today that you know you’re righteous? Not because you no longer sin. But, because you have been declared righteous by God Himself through Hs grace in Jesus? God’s grace doesn’t make us perfect people. His grace does make us free from sin and Satan’s power so we can live for the one who by His grace has saved us! I invite you today to accept God’s gift of grace by placing your trust and faith in The death of Christ on the cross and His burial and resurrection as the price of payment for your sin which secured your release from the bondage of Satan and sin and be declared righteous forever by the Lord. If you’re trusting in anything today other than God’s gift of grace through Jesus, STOP! Put your trust in Jesus alone and be saved! Dear God, I put my full faith and trust in the sacrifice of Jesus death, burial and resurrection or the full forgiveness of my sin. Thank You for setting me free form sin and Satan’s power by Your grace. I give my life to You to be lived for and with the One who saved me. Now help me live in the righteousness You have made and given me. In Jesus name, amen.
