Year of the Bible: Part Ten of TwelveSample

Justified by Faith

Justified: to be rendered innocent, to be transferred from guilty to innocent.
Faith: to trust or have confidence.

In today's reading, Paul declared to his Jewish audience that Abraham's transference from being guilty of sin to being right before God was an act of Abraham's trust in God's goodness, not because of Abraham's works or actions.

This is a big deal. This hits right in the heart of the matter. Humankind's fallen nature makes us want to be like God without having to obey God. We want to justify ourselves based on our performance, thus requiring God to recognize our own goodness apart from His grace. Paul would not entertain these thoughts, and neither should we.

Being made right with God—being justified—is an act of God's mercy and grace alone. It is God who sacrificed His only Son to forgive our rebellion and pride. His actions alone allow us to be transferred from guilty to innocent. When we place our faith—our trust and confidence—in His actions, we are declared justified. Justified means "just as if I'd never sinned." Our justification is never a result of any actions we take outside of faith.

Question: Do you believe this? Or do you still believe you must do something to earn God's favor and grace?

Prayer: Father, I believe that the work of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus alone justifies me before you. Remove from me all doubt or confusion around that fact. Settle me securely in Your Grace. Amen.