And by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. – Acts 13:39
God is able to be our Savior, rescuing us from sin’s power and penalty, because He is also our Justifier. We have broken God’s holy law. The law that reveals His perfect character and is meant to be a schoolmaster pointing us to Jesus. God’s law is a good and beautiful gift, but it could never free us from our sinfulness. It only demonstrates just how utterly guilty we stand before the just Judge of the universe, and in a sense, it holds us captive under God’s righteous condemnation.
Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. – Galatians 3:23-26
Jesus Christ came to earth as a human, lived a perfect life, offered His righteousness on our behalf, and took our sin and the just punishment for that sin upon Himself. When we call on Christ in faith, we are declared justified by the Father because of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. – Romans 4:22-5:2
Have you thought about the incredible mercy and grace God has shown you through Jesus Christ? He has canceled your record of sin and replaced it with Christ’s perfect righteousness declaring you justified forever.
PRAISE: Give glory to Jesus Christ for perfectly fulfilling the righteous demands of the law in your place.
THANKSGIVING: Thank Jesus Christ for being your advocate before the Father. Praise God for justifying you forever by His grace.
CONFESSION: Ask God to reveal any attempt to justify yourself through good works. Ask His Holy Spirit to help you to rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
FURTHER STUDY: Take some time to breathe in the truth about God’s justification and respond to what He shows you.
Romans 3:23-24; Romans 5:1-9; Titus 3:3-7; 2 Corinthians 5:21
Additional Resources
The following printable resources are taken from the 30 Days of Thanksgiving devotional available from Amazon. You’ll also find daily gratitude journaling resources below which are taken from the Every Good Gift journal also available from Amazon.