Read: Romans 5
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. – Romans 5:1-2
All have sinned and have been found guilty in God’s court. However, Jesus covers the believer’s guilt with His innocence and he is found justifiably not guilty. Before believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, we were enemies of God but now we are at peace with Him through Jesus and the work he accomplished on the cross. In other words, the just reward for our sins, “death”, has been remitted and our punishment is eternally satisfied by the punishment Christ received on the cross. From the day of our salvation to eternity we stand in this grace.
Furthermore, we can’t make God love or even like us any more than He now does. We aren’t saved by grace and perfected by good works. We don’t have to prove we’re worthy. Believers are worthy because Christ is worthy. As one theologian puts it, “The score sheet is gone and the account is settled.” Obviously we can’t brag about our salvation as if it’s something we acquired through hard work. No, we boast in Jesus and Him alone, through songs of praise and worship and lives that bring Him glory.
Michael W. Smith says "Stand is a call to stand up for what you believe in." It's a call to stand in awe of the One who gave all and to stand outside of the walls of the church rubbing shoulders with the lost. Together, we stand as followers of Jesus sharing a powerful opportunity: To live as a child of God. We must live as though we believe we are loved," he says. "It's time we take a stand believing we are loved," Smith concludes. "And then, let's go. Let's go change the world."
Thanks to God's grace we were: guilty, but now, we are innocent, God’s foes, but now are God’s friends. fallen, but now, we stand.
Won't you help someone else to stand? Introduce them to Jesus today.
“The Stand," written by Joel Houston of Hillsong and recorded by Michael W. Smith on his album Stand.
So I’ll stand with arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One Who gave it all
I’ll stand my soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours.
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