If you’re not familiar with Greek, then the title of this devotional is without meaning unless it becomes translated into English. Dikaioumenoi dōrean tē autou chariti, means “Being justified freely by his grace.”
And yet, even while reading in our English language millions of people have no better understanding of it’s meaning, than that of the Greek.
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.” Romans 3:23,24
Oh, the marvelous depth, the utter unfathomable meaning for us to comprehend… I can scarcely wrap my thoughts around the eternal impact of, being justified freely by His grace. Though all have sinned, though each of us as sinners had fallen short of the glory of God, the Bible clearly teaches us the Lord Christ Jesus brought us back to glory.
To fully comprehend being justified, we must realize, that it extends far beyond having been forgiven. Although forgiveness pardons the transgressor, it does nothing to take away the guilt. A criminal may receive a formal pardon for their actions, but the pardon in of itself doesn’t remove the guilt of their criminality.
God’s Word teaches us, that when a person puts their belief, their faith in Christ Jesus to be their Lord and Savior, justification is immediate. And when one is justified through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, they are accepted in their person in total being in all of their life, past, present and future.
Freely by God’s grace… His loving, compassionate, unmerited favor bestowed upon all who would receive His gift. Nothing can be done by us to earn our salvation… there is no work one can do to become justified… it is by faith in Christ Jesus alone, that God’s free grace gift is received! And at that moment, with an instantaneous action, the individual who believes on Christ Jesus has received righteousness. This righteousness now belongs to the believer, the justified one, just as it belongs to God, for we have been made partakers of the divine nature and are a new creation. (2 Peter 1:4; 2 Cor. 5:17)
And it is free… this word “free” is found nine times within the New Testament and it holds a most rich connotation! It means, “without price, without return, without cause, without incurring debt.”
Oh, that I might someday fully apprehend, that God in His love and mercy justified me as one who was rebellious towards Him, a guilty sinner in need of salvation… That upon my believing in His Son, I was justified freely, without any cause in me… and I am thereby forever saved by his grace!