The Prodigal's ReturnSample

Holiness

Randy Harmon

[Hebrew 10:4 NASB] For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

[Romans 3:24-26 NASB] Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness because, in the forbearance of God, He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

God is Holy. That statement is really difficult to grasp. God is perfect, sinless, all-powerful, all-knowing, all present… The human mind has difficulty understanding God’s nature. One thing is apparent. WE are NOT holy. Our sin problem prevents us from approaching a Holy God! Fortunately, God, who loves us, had a plan to deal with our sin (which separates us from Him) from the beginning of the world. He would send Jesus, fully human and fully God, into the world to live a perfect life according to the Law. Jesus would bear the punishment for our sins on the cross by giving His life in our place. God would raise Him from the dead and approve His sacrifice so we can be part of His family.

He did this, not out of obligation, but out of love. Because we have been justified by faith in Jesus Christ, we have also been given His righteousness. We could not earn the righteousness of God through our own works or power. It is only through the work of Christ that we can be justified as believers. God pardons our sins through the finished work of Jesus. So, we can say with the Apostle Paul (1 Timothy 1:15), “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.”

Lord, help me to live in thankfulness for your righteousness which is mine through faith in Christ Jesus. Thank you for making a way for me to be right with you. Amen.