JUSTIFIED

Day 8 – Who He Says I Am Series

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 5:1

In Christ – 

YOU ARE JUSTIFIED

The finished work of the cross made you righteous in the sight of God. (Romans 5:17)

In a court of law, you are given an advocate. If you have been charged with a crime, you are appointed an attorney to represent you. The purpose of this attorney is to plead your case. To defend you and declare your innocence. While you may or may not have ever experienced this in an earthly courtroom, spiritually speaking, you have committed a crime. Many crimes, to be more accurate, but according to James 2:10. “Whoever keeps the whole law, but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” All of it. Meaning our sin is no better or worse than anyone else, because we have all broken all of it. The apostle Paul declares in Romans 3:23 that “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” We are all guilty. Not one of us is righteous. “No, not one.” (Romans 3:10). So before you think that you don’t need a court appointed attorney, it is important to realize that we all do. This is also an important reminder not to judge others. I have noticed throughout scripture that Jesus always had abundant grace for anyone who wanted it and for those who acted like they didn’t need it, He didn’t give it. These were the ones who acted like they were better than others, that their sin was better than someone else’s. Jesus is the Great Physician, dispensing the correct medicine to each patient. To the ones who came for Grace, He gave grace and gave in abundance. To the ones who acted like they had righteousness of their own, and wanted more law, He gave them law. Unfortunately, the self-righteous continue to miss out on the abundance of Grace He is so willing to give. You get to choose if you want more law or more Grace, because He knows that both ultimately lead to Him. This is where we must realize that any and all sin makes us unrighteous. My sin is no better than anyone else’s sin and if you choose to believe differently, you are choosing to believe that you don’t want to receive the abundant grace He has for you. The words, “All” and “Not one” place every single one of us in the same boat. The boat that needs a Savior. The boat that needs an Advocate. The boat that needs Grace. Jesus is our Savior and our Advocate. He not only took your place and paid the debt you owed, but He now stands against the enemy and the lies in your mind to declare every single day that because of His blood shed for you, you are now holy, spotless, and washed fully clean. He has clothed you in His righteousness. Not because of anything you do, but because of everything that He did, you are justified. When we look again at the beginning of Romans 5:1, we can see that there is a result of being justified. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We have peace because we are justified. That is huge. Peace is ours in Christ, the Prince of Peace, because of our justification. I’ve heard it said that the word “justified” can be understood as “just if I’d never done it.” Whatever you are beating yourself up about, whatever the enemy is accusing you of, know that you have been justified. Your Advocate, Jesus, is standing in your courtroom on your behalf declaring that you are innocent. He took your place as the guilty party. It’s just as if you’d never done anything. Have you ever watched the relief in the face of someone who is on the defendant’s stand and has been acquitted of a crime? That is you today. Feel the relief. You have been acquitted. The accuser has no hold on you. Don’t listen to any voices that join in with the accuser of the brethren (the enemy – Revelation 12:10). From today forward, agree with your Advocate and any voice that joins your Advocate in affirming that you are forgiven. You are justified. You are free. And you are loved. In these truths you will find peace.

JUSTIFIED – is your Identity! 

Daily Reminder

You don’t have to work to be Justified, you already are Justified because Christ gave you a new identity. His identity. This is who you are because of who He is, not who you have to try to become.

– Religion tells us what to do to become, which equals self reliance – the focus is on self.

– The truth of the Gospel tells us who we are because of who Jesus is and what He did – the focus is on Jesus.

Good News  – Our Father in heaven is pleased with you because of what Jesus did – it all hinges on Him not us.

We are in union with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:17). When our Daddy in heaven looks at you, He sees Jesus, and He is nothing but pleased. (Matthew 3:17)

Rest in Him today.

Lord Jesus,

Thank You for taking my place. Thank You for taking away my sin. Thank You for giving me peace. Today I will not listen to any voice that disagrees with You. Please place voices around me that agree with You and give me the assurance to agree with You too. Thank You Jesus!