2022_07_15 Insight Post- Emma Keeton
This week’s reading- Romans 3-4
Over the years have struggled with the fact that despite my sin, I am forgiven by God. It does not make any sense to me that someone else paid the price for what I could not. As Christians, we are not only forgiven, but we are also God’s special possession. Sin, repentance, and forgiveness are hard for us to grasp, but Romans 3 and 4 give greater insight through Paul’s teaching on righteousness. Let’s delve a little into what righteousness means today.
Righteousness is the state of being declared upright or just in someone else’s eyes. When it comes to God’s righteousness, we are considered right in God’s eyes and have been approved by Him.
Amazingly, we have been justified, and we now bear God’s righteousness. There is NOTHING we can do to earn this! Romans 4:7-8 says:
“David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”
Jesus received our sin and exchanged it for God’s righteousness. This does not seem a fair trade, and we are the ones who stand to benefit. Romans 5:9 says:
“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”
If we let Him, God will take away the penalty of our sin for eternity. This does not give us a license to sin, but it does give us the freedom to live like Jesus. The problem of our sin has been dealt with. 1 Peter 2:9-10 tells us:
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Let the truth of who you are sink a little deeper into your soul today. You are forgiven, justified, righteous, and set free!
Emma Keeton
Prayer Team Lead
Reference: Haynes, C.L “3 Truths to Know About the Righteousness of God.” www.biblestudytools.org 10/21/20