Romans 3:23-24

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

 

These words highlight the universal nature of sin, and our desperate need for a savior. No matter who we are or what we have done, we have all fallen short of God's perfect standard. But the good news is that God offers us justification through His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

As Christians, we know that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). We know that we cannot earn our salvation by our own efforts, but that it is a free gift from God. This is a humbling and awe-inspiring truth, and it should inspire us to live our lives in grateful obedience to Him.

When we truly understand the depth of God's grace, it changes everything. It frees us from the burden of guilt and shame, and empowers us to live a life that is pleasing to Him. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

May we never forget the incredible gift of grace that God has offered us through Jesus Christ. May we live our lives in light of this truth, seeking to honor Him in all that we do. And may we never forget the words of Romans 3:23-24, which remind us of the universal nature of sin, and the incredible gift of redemption that is available to us through Jesus Christ.