Romans 3: 21-26

"(21) But now a righeousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known, to which the Law and Prophets testify. (22) This righeousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, (23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (24) and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (25) God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished - (26) he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus."

So yesterday I wrote about how none of us were righteous because we've turned away from God and our ways are full of ruin and misery. I love how Paul says it in verse 23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." But thank goodness that God loves us enough to give us a way out this desperate situation - Jesus Christ. If we have faith in Jesus Christ we become righteous in the sight of God. God no longer sees us through the clear glasses that show all of our sins, but through the blood of Christ who died for our sins. Could you imagine bearing the burden of all human sin and then dying for all of humanity? Jesus died utterly alone because the sins he bore cut him off from God. In today's world most of us wouldn't take the blame for something to save a person we love muchless complete strangers. Is it any wonder we find characters in movies who sacrifice themselves so compelling? It's because we wouldn't do it. Jesus was the first. And he was a real man who really was tortured and crucified. If we believe in him and his resurrection, then we can be redeemed in the eyes of God. Praise God!