Romans 5:9-11
Therefore, since we have now been justified by his blood, it is even more certain that we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, it is even more certain that, since we have been reconciled, we will be saved by his life. And not only is this so, but we also go on rejoicing confidently in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received this reconciliation.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Jesus’ blood has justified us; one might wonder what this means. Paul’s words make us the object—the receiver—of being justified, which saves us from Your wrath. Jesus carried out the divine plan of salvation to suffer and die on the cross; in His resurrection, not one sin was left unforgiven, and He has declared a sentence of not guilty for all sins. Faith in Jesus is what receives that gift and unites us to you.
We live in a crazy world in which we have no control over other’s sins, and corruption is all around us. Here is the crux of humanity’s situation: we came into this world as Your enemies overcome by the corruption of sin. No one is “good enough”; we have all sinned and fallen short of your glory. There is no amount of good deeds that will outdo the bad; we can’t declare people are generally good—that contradicts Your Word. Without Your intervention, we would remain condemned. Therefore, the problem is when people reject You and Your love. They get wrapped up in the desires of this world and refuse You.
However, Jesus gave up His life for all people; salvation is available to all so that everyone can be reconciled to You by trusting in Your Son, Jesus. So we pray that You would use us to share the good news of salvation, being justified by Christ—declared not guilty—so that they would have faith in You, placing all their sins at Jesus’ feet and trusting He has forgiven them. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
Every part of justification is Jesus’ work from the cross. Faith—which the Holy Spirit begins in you through His Word and sacraments—receives that gift. The soul with faith, no matter how strong or weak, that believes Jesus died for sins has salvation and eternal life delivered to it.