Guilty before God - Justified Freely

Romans 3:19-26

19. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

God shows us plainly that we are sinners (unrighteous before God) and that our sin separates us from this holy God and will lead us to eternal punishment. Then God tells us plainly how we can be rescued from this terrible state and live in eternal joy with him:

God gave the law so that we could understand sin. He made it very plain. For example, if we steal, we have broken God's law. There is nothing that we can take from someone else without their permission that is so insignificant that it is not stealing in God's eyes. If we lie, we have broken God's law (and there are no "white lies" in God's sight). God says that we are "dead in trespasses and sins". This is a terrible state to be in.

Our only hope is to receive the righteousness of Christ by faith in his shed blood on the cross. It must be personal. We must realize that it is our sin that caused him to go the cross. Our "righteousness" will never do. Only Christ's righteousness satisfies God's requirements and it is a gift. When we receive his gift we are "justified freely by his grace". This gift is free to us all, but it cost God everything. It is a conditional gift. It is conditioned upon our faith.

Most people reject these plain teachings of God. If you have received God's free gift then I want to rejoice with you. If you have not received God's free gift then please don't put it off. Eternity awaits. Wor