Romans 3:23-24
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for keeping us from becoming overconfident in ourselves. We can look into the mirror and consider the image looking back at us to be a good person. While we might do many good things for those around us, there is still that underlying problem of sin: our sinful thoughts and actions.
Along with the stuff we mumble under our breath—hoping no one else hears us—or the thing we yell at one another—making sure those words cut as deep as they can. Then there are our thoughts that no one else knows (or at least we hope no one knows.) The problem with sin is that Jesus told us to be perfect just as you are perfect, and every one of us fails. Just as Paul said, all of us have sinned and fall short of your glory.
The good news is that you did not leave us in that state because if we had, we would all be condemned to eternal damnation, suffering the punishment of hell. You sent your Son to justify us; he came to this earth to live with us, but he lived his life, perfectly loving you and us. Then he willingly went to the cross, suffering the punishment for our sins. From the cross, Jesus called out those words that he had completed the payment for our sins; our sentence was paid in full with his words, “It is finished!”
Jesus’ love for us has removed our sins by redeeming us. He has declared us not guilty. This gift comes to us through faith alone by believing in all that Jesus has done. Faith comes to us by the Holy Spirit through your Word and sacraments.
So we pray for your Holy Spirit to strengthen the faith of those who already hold to Christ, that they will never turn from you. We pray, also, for those who do not know you, that we are given opportunities to share your love and forgiveness with them so that they will realize and trust in Jesus’ forgiveness and redemption; please give them a saving faith that knows their Savior. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
Understand that Christ justifies you—declares you innocent—by his grace; you cannot justify yourself—claiming innocence for yourself. Jesus has done this freely so that by faith in Him, you are declared innocent and given the gift of eternal life.