His Gift On Display

To “redeem” something is to buy it back so it can be used for its full purpose. When it comes to salvation, the Bible says, “There is no one righteous, no, not even one.” (Romans 3:10,23). This sinful state requires a “redemption” so we can enter the eternal purposes God intended.

So God provided righteousness… “which is by faith in Jesus Christ, extended to all and resting upon all those who believe: for there is no difference between people: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory (perfect standards) of God.”

Through the Cross, we have been “justified freely (without cost to you) by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be an overflowing payment through faith in His blood…” (Romans 3:22-25).

To “set forth” means “to put on exhibit, to place before the eyes of all” that they may accept the goodness offered to them. All our sin has been “paid in full” by Jesus, and God will declare that all who acknowledge their sins in prayer, and receive Christ as Savior, are “justified from all things.” That means, a clean slate, a fresh start, a new heart with His power of righteousness, resulting in eternal life.

“Where is boasting then? It is excluded” (Romans 3:27). Salvation is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast (Ephesians 2:8,9). We can only boast in the Gift and the Giver. And that is why the symbol of Christian victory is the empty cross – it is the place where Jesus forgave every sin, gifted us His righteousness, and defeated death to keep us by His power.

Hallelujah for the Cross.

(Devotional by Lisa Cataford)