But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Rom. 3:21-24 (NIV)
Dear heavenly Father, what wondrous love is this, indeed! Out of the measureless supply of your sovereign grace, you have generously met our greatest need. You have freely and fully given us the righteousness of Jesus. Your law condemned us, but your gospel has redeemed us; we fell short of your glory, but you went long with your mercy. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah!
While we were still sinners and rebels, idolaters and fools, you gave Jesus to us, and for us. He lived a life of perfect obedience for us—fulfilling every demand of the law; and he died a death of utter humility—exhausting all judgment against our sins. You love us because of Jesus’ substitution for us, not because of the Spirit’s transformation of us. We’re saved by the merit of Christ, not by the measure of our change.
The only work left for us to do is to believe in the one you have sent—Jesus (John 6:29). Now our hearts sing… “Arise, my soul, arise; shake off your guilty fears and shame-fueled tears. Jesus is your righteousness; Jesus is your perfect, once-and-for-all, God-pleasing, law-fulfilling, judgment-exhausting righteousness. No fear in death, no guilt in life. No separation from the love of God, or vacillation of the delight of God. God loves you as much as he loves Jesus, and there’s nothing you can do about it, but believe it and rest in it.”
Father, for so great, perfect, and complete a salvation we worship and adore you. May your steady, full-bore, unremitting love for us in Jesus, compel us to live for your glory. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ matchless and merciful name.