“²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the Glory of God;

²⁴ Being justified freely by His Grace through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

²⁵ Whom God has 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;

²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time His Righteousness: that He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believes in Jesus.

²⁷ Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the Law of Faith.” Romans 3:23-24

The central core of Christianity seems to be fading away in many of the modern churches.  The preaching of the death of Jesus Christ; the pouring out of His Blood to atone for all sins and to break the power of sin in the Believer’s life is being replaced by activities.  The participation in the activities, which are often religious ceremonies, traditions or even social gatherings, become the means of justification by the Believer. They would never admit this.  Remember the heart is deceitful and often they don’t even realize their faith has been transferred to their activity for justification but try to get them to miss one of those activities and see what happens.

Instead of being justified by faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning work for their position as a Child of God, in their hearts they are justified by their “activity” for their position. They read their Bible to justify themselves, fast 3 days a week to justify themselves, get baptized in water, pray an hour every day, etc., etc..  All of these things are Scriptural and each and every Child of God should do these things…but they do not justify us in the sight of God.

God does not take lightly the price Jesus Christ paid to justify and sanctify whosoever will believe.  Satan uses religion to redirect our faith into our part for our Justification and Sanctification but the Word of God says we are justified by faith and have peace with God through Jesus Christ.

The Cross of Christ is not a mere part of a doctrine, it IS the Head of the Corner of our faith. Jesus Christ is Alive.  He sits at the Right Hand of the Throne of God and makes intercession for us.  Understand this, Jesus is not constantly turning to God the Father apologizing for our actions, His Blood has interceded for us and continues to intercede for us…it is His Sacrifice that makes peace with God through our faith.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By Whom also we have access by faith into this Grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the Glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2

Do not take lightly our position with God through our simple faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ for our Justification and our Sanctification. For those who are perishing this is foolishness but for those of us who are saved, this is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18).  Do not take lightly the activities by which we seek justification either.  The devil’s most powerful weapon is deceit and our hearts are too often snared by the devil’s lie. Without knowing we are sincere and zealous but we are sincerely wrong.

Prayerfully consider.

-Donna Clark Warren