“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…”
Two thoughts are strung together in this famous verse, the first active and the second passive. In other words, the first is something we do, and the second is something done to us. We all have sinned. That is what we do. We fall short. What hope is left to us but to be justified freely by His grace. That is the something done to us. It is God's gift to any and all who return to Him.
Before Christ explained to Peter that he would deny Him, He told him these words. “I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." What else can we do, once you have tasted life in God, but to return to Him. We may be tempted to repay God for our crimes against Him. Many times this is more to appease our feelings of guilt than it is to appease Him. Even if we are sincere, it is impossible for us to pay our moral debt before God.
God justifies us freely by His grace. God justifies us freely but the gift was not free. The debt of course was paid in the redemption of Christ. We should stop trying to earn forgiveness and just accept it. Father does not want us to appease Him but to accept His free offer of forgiveness.
One Christian hymn expresses this so well.
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
These for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
4/13/07 ts
Just me trying to be honest with God.
