This week devotions will be based on pieces from The Justification Reader by Thomas C. Oden.
In writing about the unique blessing of justification we hear.
Those who come to God come only by grace - only through trusting wholly in what God has already accomplished on the cross.
No Christian teaching is more crucial to peace of conscience that justification. The central blessing of Christian living hinges upon the proper understanding of the free grace of the sovereign God. Rightly believed, it consecrates all other energies of the redeemed person and community.
God open the door to the reign of God. Then again it could be that God not only opens the door, God closes the door behind us for God has already brought us into the reign of God for that is what God longs to do with us. We believe that we are justified before God because of God action alone. Oden's comment that "it consecrates all other energies of the redeemed person and community" demonstrates what power for life there is as we trust that God has indeed acted in such a way for us. Trusting in what God has done there is no other power that is left to rule over us. We are free to move within this day a new and blessed person with one Lord of our life who brings peace for all of our days.
Connection: Justification is at the very heart of the gospel. It is how we are invited to see ourselves and it is how we are invited to see the world around us. It is not a theory. We believe it is the power of God acting for us and making this day completely new...again.
Gracious God before we enter this day you stand with us and promise to be our strength and our guide in and through all things. Support us this day and give us the courage to walk as though your Good News is truly the lens through which we see our world. Amen.
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