Lessons in Grace - Justified

All have sinned and continue to fall short of the glory of God (God’s standard)
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
· We are imperfect.
· All of our righteousness is like filthy rags.
Isaiah 64:6
For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment…
The wages of sin is death. (Eternal separation from God.)
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We are incapable of going to Heaven on our own.
Galatians 2:16
…a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.
The price was paid for everyone.
John 3:14-16
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;
that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Jesus Christ, being God came to Earth.
Philippians 2:6-8
…although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Lived a sinless life.
Was crucified.
paid the price for our sins
became sin for us
Was buried. (He was dead.)
He rose from the dead. (Victory over death and the grave)
1 Corinthians 15:3,4
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.
and that He was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

The result:
The price has been paid. The wages of sin have been paid.
Romans 3:21-24
But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and Prophets;
even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.
We have a way to Heaven, because the price is paid.

Our decision:
Acts 16: 30,31
He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.
What must I do to be saved?

Knowledge: I have heard the gospel.
Acceptance: I believe that the gospel is true.
Trust: I trust (put my faith in) in Christ’s payment of my sin as sufficient for me to go to Heaven.
Jesus Christ must be the object of our faith and trust.
John 5:24
Truly, Truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

The result:
At the moment that you trust in Christ as your Savior, the Holy Spirit comes.
You are sealed.
Ephesians 1:13,14
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation – having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise;
who is given as a pledge to our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
You cannot lose your salvation for any reason. (Faithful while I am faithless)
You are “born again” New creation.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

NO MATTER WHAT. You will be in Heaven with Jesus when you die.
No one can ever look at your life, and tell you that you are not a Christian and be right.The Key: Trust in Christ as your Savior. If you did that, then you are a Christian. If you did not do that, then you are not.