October 10, 2023 | Martin Luther – Day 37

 

“Nothing more is required for justification than to hear of Jesus Christ and to believe on Him as our Savior.”

Martin Luther

 

 

Luther said that justification happens the moment faith accepts the fact of forgiveness. It really is that simple. The moment we realize that our sins are past us, we can also recognize that we have been justified. When we truly understand what the sacrifice of the Savior did to warrant our justification, we can accept it as real. In all things, faith is key.

 

Paul said in his letter to the Romans, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Immediately before this, he was talking about the promise realized by faith.

 

The promise he was referring to was the promise given to Abraham. At the end of chapter 4 he wrote, “For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. “That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all” (Romans 4:13-16).

 

Justification is really that simple. It all depends on faith. It’s believing that those who believe and are baptized will be saved. Jesus has done everything we could not do to bring us justification. He paid the penalty we could not pay so that we might be set free. And it cost Him his life.

 

So, now that we have been justified by His grace, we can look forward to being heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:7). Because we have been justified through faith, we can look forward to better things to come where we will be forever linked by a justification given us as a gift by the blood of the perfect sacrifice.

 

Today, thank God for making all things possible. Contemplate the amazing gift given by way of God’s amazing grace, justifying us for all eternity.

 

Our Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us enough to make our justification possible and forgive us for those times we have taken Your grace for granted. Amen.