ROMANS 3:24 JUSTIFIED FREELY The contrast of those who have sinned and are unable to cross that barrier to reach God, and the grace of God that extends itself to every person is made so clear in this verse. It is God - God alone - who justifies the guilty sinner. The whole world is pronounced guilty, under sin, by the Righteous, Sovereign Judge. Now He shows Himself in righteous, sovereign grace toward the guilty. He declares, or accounts, us righteous before Himself. He doesn't go about to make us become righteous, but states the fact of a righteous, legal change in our relationship to God.
This change of relationship has been done freely, without charge. This declaration of being righteous has nothing to do with the labor or efforts of any. This is totally apart from our feelings and emotions, our prayers and efforts of penance. We have been accounted righteous by God's reckoning alone. Like the water of life that is given freely, so we have been justified freely by His grace.
Love and grace are both closely linked by the word "charis." The great act of benevolence that we needed was supplied when God "gave His only begotten Son." This grace comes from the infinite God who in infinite love extended to us "His grace." This is not something deserved or earned, or restricted by the law. This is unmerited, unearned favor; that which gives great delight and blessing at no charge to the needy.
This justification has been bestowed by God's grace through the payment for sin made by Christ Jesus. This great salvation we have was provided for and made available to us through the cross-work of Christ Jesus. We are delivered from the penalty of our sins through them being put away forever through the redemption price paid - the precious blood of Christ - not by any corruptible things.
We were under the wrath of God and brought in guilty before Him. There was no pardon for us through the law. We were exposed to righteous judgment by a Great and Just God. But now in this court-room of absolute righteousness, the light that shines brighter than the sun leaving no shadow anywhere - we are accounted righteous in our relationship with God because He has freely justified us by His own grace that is greater than our sin. This has been made available to us because we have been redeemed from sin's penalty through the blood of Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!
There is nothing at all we can say or do of ourselves, Justification is entirely of God. No prayers, labors or penance can ever help, Nothing can be added to the value of the blood. There is no way we can by ourselves purchase freedom from the guilt of sin, The price is far too high for us to pay. By the precious blood of Christ Jesus alone, My sins have been washed away.
Now I am declared by God to be justified, He is the One who announced to me, That by this change of relationship He is satisfied, To make this justification absolutely free. The value of this is far greater than All anyone could ever accumulate. This is freely made available to every man, Who will personally the Savior take.
This whole matter of being justified is by God's grace, It cannot be polluted by the works of men. We come into the good of this by placing our faith, On Him who provided it when He laid on Christ Jesus our load of sin, And with His blood He paid the redemption price. Now God does not demand anything from men; That would mean sin was paid for twice.
To be justified means there is no guilt; It also means God has drawn near to me. The cup of righteousness is completely filled, Imparted by God's grace legally. My response to that gift is joy and relief; This slave has been by Christ Jesus redeemed. Blessing like this is way beyond my reach, But from that redemption, blessings now continually stream.
"Gracious, Merciful, Heavenly Father: this righteousness that is accounted to me by Thy grace is so precious to me that it defies my words. For Thy grace, for Thy free justification, for the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, I thank Thee with all of my heart. May I be able to worship Thee in Spirit and in truth as I consider throughout this day Thy justification, Thy grace and my redemption. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."