Bethany Bullet - July 19, 2011

Our status before God and our standing in heaven comes from the LORD who is Judge of all people. At the same time, our status before God and our standing in heaven comes from the LORD who is Father to each and every person.

Our status and standing is based on the legal and forensic declaration of God, that for the sake of Christ, we are “not guilty.” Our status and standing is based on the personal and relational action of God that through Jesus we are restored to Him. The former is what lies within the word justification. The latter is what lies within the word reconciliation.

· Though we have broken the law,

· Though we have disobeyed,

· Though we deserve nothing but punishment and death…

Yet for the sake of Christ, through faith, God justifies the ungodly.

· Though we have wandered,

· Though we have gone our own way,

· Though He ought to let us go…

Yet in Jesus, God has lovingly sought and brought us into His family.

As you work your way through the book of Romans this summer, we must be ever mindful that we cannot work ourselves into the kingdom or into God’s company. God (and God alone) has unilaterally justified us through Himself (the work of Jesus) and God. God alone has unilaterally reconciled us to Himself (on account of Christ).

-Pastor Kevin Kritzer