Grace and Redemption

Wow! I can’t believe it’s been so long since I wrote a blog post… I have been more focused on podcast that I forgot to write. I enjoy yapping, so podcasts have become my preferred way in sharing God’s word with you all. However, I felt that it was time for me to rip the band aid off my writing. I have written plenty of research papers in the last six months but writing for fun is different. I love writing and sharing my thoughts with everyone, but I think I just have had writers block for a while.

Let’s try to change that a little, shall we? (No promises though lol)

We are going to talk about Paul’s writing in Romans. This has been a scripture I have caught myself quoting over and over recently and I think is a good reminder for us. I always thought of it one way, until I was listening to a podcast that Louie Giglio was on, and he mentioned this scripture in a different way.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, AND all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 2:23-24 (emphasis added)

I tend to quote the first half, before the “and.” I usually talk about verse 23 and rarely mention verse 24. It’s crazy to think that, because then I am missing the best part. Yes, we all sin and fall short of God’s glory, which can seem like a relief, because we are not alone. But that can also sound disappointing because then we are always going to fall short, seeming like we constantly let God down.

But the “and” is the good news for us. We are justified (made right). for FREE. by His grace. through His redemption (death on the cross). which was because of Jesus.

Does that make sense?

My study Bible says this, “He cancels the guilt of their sin and credits righteousness to them.” Furthermore, “no one lives a perfectly good, holy, righteous life. But even though all are sinners, God will declare those who put their trust in Jesus not guilty but righteous.” (NIV study Bible).

Basically, we are human and are unable to live up to the expectation of what life should have been like before of the fall (Adam and Eve doomed us in Genesis). Since we are sinners and unable to save ourselves, Jesus came into the world as a perfect human to sacrifice Himself for our salvation. Even though we tend to fall short, there is the beautiful gift of God’s grace and redemption that is given to us for no reason at all. Solely because God loves us and wants a relationship with us.

I can’t seem to wrap my head around why the King of Kings, so great and powerful, would want us? Why would He deem you and I worthy of His sacrifice and love?

That is the beauty of the Gospel. That is the beauty of what we live for.

Let’s just sit in that today. To know that: Yes, we sin. But we are made right in God’s eyes by no works of our own. Only by what Jesus did for us on the cross. Because He loves us.

Much love,
Charity