UnashamedSample

Prayer: Lord, I have fallen short. I am far from perfect. Thank you that being made right with you is not dependent on what I have done, but on what Jesus has done. Help me to better understand what you have accomplished for me and how much you love me, so that I am motivated by love and gratitude to worship and serve Jesus.

Freely Justified

Have you ever felt like you felt like you had to earn the approval of your parents? What about your friends, professors, siblings, or classmates? Have you ever felt that way about God? In times of desperation, it can be easy to believe that one more mistake will cause him to be done with us forever. Fortunately, God has a much better plan for you than that.

Against the bleak and hopeless backdrop of our wrongdoing, God has put his righteousness on display. Jesus was completely faithful to fulfil the Law, which no human was able to perfectly follow. Enthroned on the cross, he was lifted up to display the love of God for everyone to everyone. The faithfulness of Jesus to redeem humanity stands out in stark contrast to human evil that Paul has gone through great lengths to explain so far in Romans. Because of this sacrifice, the majesty of Jesus shines all the more brightly into the darkness.

You are a sinner, and so is every person you have met or will ever meet. That simply means we miss the mark, falling short of the standard that has been set—God’s own perfection. Jesus did not miss, and his perfection made a path to God, free of charge. No amount of good works or turning from old habits can enable you to earn or work your way to God. Our justification before God is completely through our faith, by his gift of grace. Salvation is not the end goal—it is the beginning of a relationship with God that is guaranteed to continue into eternity.   

Questions to Ask Yourself:

1. How does your view of your own failures help grow your appreciation for what Jesus has accomplished for you?
2. Do you view your salvation as the end goal of your faith, or the starting point of your relationship with God? How are these two views different?

What’s Next? 

1. If you believe that your salvation is something you have to earn, your life automatically becomes self-focused, as your try to do enough to save yourself. If you realize that salvation is something that God achieved on your behalf, your life becomes others focused, as you naturally desire to help them find the amazing grace that God has shown you. 
2. In light of this, who is someone that you can share the gospel with this week?