It never ceases to amaze me how alive the Word of God is. For example, I’ll read a passage that I’ve read hundreds of times, and it holds the power to have new significance in that particular stage of life. I am currently reading through Romans and am struck by God’s boundless mercy and heart for salvation. Let’s have a look.
Romans 8 and Revelation 12
The Bible declares in Romans 8:1 that there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. The chapter further goes on to say in verse 33:
Whom dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own?
Well, it turns out in Revelation 12:10-11 that the devil tries. Listen to this:
The accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth – the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.
Are you catching this??? The devil is standing before God day and night, telling him all the ways we’ve messed up – all the reasons why we don’t deserve to be saved. All the reasons why we don’t deserve His love, compassion and mercy.
And guess what. We don’t deserve to be saved; we don’t deserve God’s mercy. All of us mess up, in big and small ways. No one is righteous, not even one (Romans 3:10).
HOWEVER…
Thanks be to Jesus that we get to enjoy God’s free gift of mercy and salvation! Did you catch the second half of Revelation 12:10 where it said we have overcome the devil by the blood of the Lamb!
Let’s go back and add in the second half of Romans 8:33 and take a look at verse 34 as well.
Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? No one – for God Himself has given us right standing with Himself. Who then will condemn us? No one – for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us and He is sitting at the place of honor at God’s right hand pleading for us.
Are you getting this? As the devil is standing before God, telling Him of all our failures and trying to condemn us, Jesus is sitting at God’s right hand, reminding the devil that He paid the price for our sins once and for all time. He is acting on our behalf (Hebrews 9:24) as our advocate (1 John 2:1).
The Free Gift
And you know what’s even more amazing? This salvation and right standing is a free gift! We did absolutely nothing to earn it. Instead, Jesus knew we could never earn God’s mercy because of how flawed we are. So He took the sins of every single person upon Himself, died in our place (the punishment we deserved) and was raised to life 3 days later, conquering sin and death once for all time. Romans 5:21 says
So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
God’s Gift Is For Everyone
Now you might be sitting here thinking to yourself, “I’m too far gone for God’s grace”. But my friend, this is simply not true! Jesus died for all people everywhere! And to prove my point, look at Romans 3:22
We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes no matter who we are.
Jesus is omniscient and transcends time. He knew long before He died on the cross that you would exist. He knew your thoughts before you thought them and your actions before you accomplished them. Yet, knowing all these things, He chose you and chose to die for you because He loves you.
This my friends is true love and the ultimate gift.
Blessings on your home and table,
Natalie
For more Food, Faith and Friday posts, check out my post on anxiety.
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