Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, wea have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.2Through him we have also obtained access by faithb into this grace in which we stand, and wec rejoiced in hope of the glory of God.3Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,5and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.7For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—8but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.9Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.10For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.11More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Have you ever felt irredeemable, like the more you try to change the world the more it tries to engulf you in it's wickedness? There is a doctrine in the Bible called justification, the way it works it that if you have saving faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ, you have been redeemed (your debt of sin has been cancelled!) Justification means that although you are still a sinner, you have been made right in the sight of God's demand for justice. The Lord demands justice to be paid for our sins and the only way we can meet that need, is through placing our faith in what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross, by paying for our sins there.
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.6But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down)7“or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).8But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);9because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.11For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.13For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Justification demands that we see Christ for who He really is, He is Lord, and it demands that we believe this with all of our hearts. A church is not a church unless they are proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus Christ. (see verses above) God demands that we worship Jesus as Lord, and your eternity in Heaven depends on this truth. If we say we are Christians, and spurn the Lordship of Jesus Christ for some passing church fad, you deny the Lord. The doctrine of justification ensures that we came to Christ on His terms, and ensures that God will not hold us guilty on Judgement Day. The bible talks about the wrath of God and I can assure you that the world is under his judgement right now. (Romans 1 see) Because the true christian has peace with God, God keeps them in righteousness and right standing positionally until that last day. ( see verses below)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love5he predestined usb for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,6to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight9making knownc to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ10as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,14who is the guaranteed of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,e to the praise of his glory.
Not only do we have salvation, but we are kept from God's wrath now and after we die... in hell. God will redeem our bodies and has already redeemed our souls, and he has given us the Holy Spirit as a seal (Ephesians 1:13) until Christ returns, or we go to be with the Lord...Christian you are blessed!
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