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)
Heavenly Father, as I mediate my way through this remarkable passage, once again I realize there’s simply no such thing as “moving on from the gospel”—no basis for ever saying “I’ve got the gospel, now what’s next?” For the gospel isn’t just about how we begin the Christian life, it’s how we live it. Indeed, the gospel isn’t the mere ABC’s of this life of grace; it’s the A to Z.
All of the Scriptures—the Law, Prophets and Psalms all pointed towards the day you sent Jesus into the world, to do for us what we could never do for ourselves. We have a need only you can meet, for we constantly fall short of the Law’s truth, beauty, and goodness. In Jesus, you have generously given us both the forgiveness we need and the righteousness we must have. We praise, bless, and worship you, Father.
By faith in Jesus, you now declare us to be exhaustively forgiven and fully justified; you cannot love us more right now, and you’ll never love us less. We can’t add to your love for us by our good works; and we can’t diminish your love, by our foolishness and failures. Father, if you hadn’t written this good news plainly in your Word, we wouldn’t believe it; it’s seems too good to be true.
How then shall we live this life of radical grace? Compelled by your love, Father, we want to live, love, and die to your glory. As those no longer condemned for our sins, we purpose to obey you from our hearts, serve you all our days, and honor you with everything we have. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ exquisite and exalted name.