Romans 3:23, 24 NRSV

Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus ~ Romans 3:23, 24 NRSV


I recently had a conversation in which we were discussing our backgrounds before Christ was a part of our lives. We went over mistakes and bad choices we had made, and the impact they had on our lives at the time. Looking back, it was easy to see where we had erred in life and how we had turned our back on all that God through Jesus Christ desired for us to have lived. But we also looked forward, for now that our lives and hearts belong to Jesus Christ, we know our past has been forgiven. That is our gift in Christ. It is and was not that either of us had done anything to deserve this forgiveness and the washing of our soul, but only through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ! We all have different past lives. Whether you were raised in the church, or fell away in some stage of your life, or, if you do not even know Christ now as your Saviour, he is and always will be there to redeem what is past. Our sin may be major or minor in our eyes, but in God’s eyes, sin is sin, and all are equal. There is nothing we can do to stop our carnal bodies from sinning, not until the power and grace of Christ redeems us and his Holy Spirit comes to live within us. Oh, give praise to God the Saviour who has redeemed us from the death which was ours and has given to us the promise of life eternal as a free gift! Why do those we know hesitate to receive what he has for them? May we be witnesses to his glory, his grace, his mercy, and his eternal love which presents his gift of salvation no matter what we have done in the past. He will not let our past go to waste but will use it for his glory. We just have to say, “I receive your gift, Lord Jesus. Renew me, forgive me, save me.”

Pastor Julia

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