Romans 3:23-26
²³ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD, ²⁴being JUSTIFIED as a GIFT by His grace through the redemption which is IN CHRIST JESUS; ²⁵whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation IN HIS BLOOD through faith. This was TO DEMONSTRATE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; ²⁶for the demonstration, I say, of HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS at the present time, so that He would be JUST and the JUSTIFIER of the one WHO HAS FAITH IN JESUS.
Let me give an example.
There was a reporter who had an interview with three men.
An Orthodox Jew, a Muslim, and a Christian; I mean a real Christian.
The reporter, a secular man, asked the Muslim: “If you died right now, where would you go?
The Muslim answered: “I’ll go to Paradise, for I lived well, I completed the Five Pillars, I’ve given alms to the poor, I’ve made the Pilgrimage to Mecca, I’ve said the daily prayers, I really am a righteous man”
It sounded logical to the secular reporter, so he now asked the Orthodox Jew the same question.
The Jew answered: “I’ll go to paradise because I love the Torah, I love the love of God, I love God’s righteousness, I love His law, and His word”
This too sounded logical to the secular reporter, so he now asked th Christian. “If you would die right now, where would you go?”
The Christian answered: “I will go to heaven, because I was born in sin, and since then I sinned myself. I have broken every law of my God, and I deserve judgement and condemnation.”
The reporter replied: “This is rather awkward, the other two I understand, but you’re telling me that you’re going to heaven even though you deserve the very opposite, so how are you going to heaven?”
Then the Christian said “I’m going to Heaven based upon the virtue and the merit of another, Jesus Christ my Lord!”
The Christian is the only person, who can actually say that he is going to heaven, and not be boasting, we can say we are going to heaven, and at the same time humble ourselves, because it is not by our own merit and virtue.
Listen well to what I’m saying. I am not teaching that the true Christian can live like the devil, and still go to heaven! The same God who justifies, also regenerates!
To be continued
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