WEDNESDAY August 13, 2025

Justified by Grace

...that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life...
Titus 3:5-7

In a person’s life, without regeneration there will be no justification or sanctification. What do those doctrinal terms mean? Justified means “we are made just, by God.” Some theologians will say––just as if we never sinned. Justification by faith is a central truth of our salvation. We were declared guilty, but now, through God’s grace, we are declared not guilty. Our salvation was accomplished by God’s grace––His unmerited favor. Every one of our sins was placed on Jesus Christ on the Cross.

Sanctification is a process by which a believer is made holy or “set-apart.”  We have a transformed life and become more and more like Christ. Through grace, we become heirs of what? We hope for what? We are heirs of eternal life; that is our hope––the promise of eternal life!

Through faith in Jesus, we have also become adopted children of God:

Ephesians 1:4-6: ...just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

2 Corinthians 6:18: “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Stop for a moment and think about the amazing grace of God, and how it has changed your life. Think of the price Christ paid to have you stand before God justified––not guilty. Consider the eternal hope you have inherited, all because of God’s great love for you. In response to your heavenly Father’s love and kindness, will you praise and serve Him for the rest of your life? Give God all the glory for His amazing grace!

When God's righteousness is mentioned in the gospel, it is God's action of declaring righteous the unrighteous sinner who has faith in Jesus Christ. The righteousness by which a person is justified (declared righteous) is not his own but that of another, Christ.
~Martin Luther~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!