But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
Today's quote very clearly establishes that no longer will the actions of mankind be judged according to the law, but rather, each man/woman will be judged by his/her faith in the only begotten Son of God.
If one has faith in Jesus Christ, not only will he/she receive forgiveness of sins, but rather, that one will be seen in the eyes of God as having been "justified" for what he/she did.
There is a great difference between being forgiven and being justified. The dictionary defines the word forgive as; "1. to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve. 2. to give up all claim on account of; remit (a debt, obligation, etc.). 3. to grant pardon to (a person). 4. to cease to feel resentment against: to forgive one's enemies. 5. to cancel an indebtedness or liability of: to forgive the interest owed on a loan.verb (used without object), forgave, forgiven, forgiving."
Justified means; "1. to show an act to be just or right: 2. to defend or uphold as warranted or well-grounded. 3. Theology. to declare innocent or guiltless; absolve; acquit.
Receiving forgiveness means that one has had the threat of a penalty for some expressed action removed. It does not mean that that one was never determined to be guilty of the action.
Being "justified", however, means that one has been found to have committed no wrong in the first place.
Therefore, if we have sufficient faith in Jesus Christ, those things that are considered sin under the law are no longer sins so far as our judgment before God is concerned.
God sent His Son as the perfect "propitiation" for those things that were once perceived as sins; "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:16-17)
One CANNOT rely upon oneself to live above sin, that is impossible. Jesus has removed the burden of sin for all who will accept His amazing saving grace.~
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