FRIDAY February 21, 2025

Resting in Redemption

But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers....
1 Timothy 1:8-9

In full power of God’s Spirit, Paul addressed the issues of the Law. Again, the Law was a revealer of the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man. It causes us to look at ourselves as condemned sinners. The Law condemns us, but it also points us to look to Jesus Christ for our salvation. When a person repents and receives Jesus Christ by faith, there is a genuine conversion. We are driven to a place of rest––resting in the redemptive work of Christ for our salvation. That is what is so beautiful about being a Christian.

Paul makes clear that the Law is not made for a righteous person. If you are not a righteous person, the sins that Paul begins to name will be seen in your life. Who is a righteous person? Only those who have placed their trust in Christ. Justification is when the sinner stands before God as if they had never sinned––justified. They are declared righteous in Christ.

Redemption is best understood when we see ourselves as slaves to sin. When we stand before a holy God, there is a price to be paid. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). However, Jesus offered Himself to pay the ransom for our sin with His own blood; therefore, we stand before God as not guilty. Jesus was crucified on the Cross and paid our debt in full by His own blood.

The sinner stands before God as a debtor; but for the Christian, the debt has been forgiven––paid in full. We owe nothing! The sinner stands as an enemy before God, but after Christ’s reconciliation, he stands before Him as a friend. The sinner stands before God as a stranger, but Christ acquired the repentant sinner’s sonship, so now he stands as a son of God––amazing!

God's holiness demands that sin be punished - but God's love has provided the way of redemption through Christ.
~Billy Graham~

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