We are frail and sinful people, even after our salvation. We are saved by Christ and have all the good news of the Gospel but we still struggle with our lower, ungodly nature and will until we see Jesus face to face in eternity. So the question is, how does God see us once we have given our hearts to Christ and He has forgiven our sin?

This is where one of the big words of the Bible comes in. It is justification. To understand justification, let's look at three passages in Romans 8 where Paul speaks about justification.

In Romans 8:1-4 we read this: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Here is the first thing to know about Justification. Sinful as we are, there is no longer any condemnation from God for our sin because the Son of God paid for our sin in His death. We no longer live with any condemnation.

Then Romans 8:29-30. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."

Here is the second thing to know about justification. Through Jesus you are justified. Here is an easy way to remember what that means. When God looks at you He sees you “Just as if you had never sinned.” He does not see the sinful you although we all continue to sin even as believers. He sees us clean and pure because Jesus paid for our sin: past, present and future. Jesus took it all and in the sight of God you are clean.

Finally, Romans 8:31-33.  “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.”

Third thing to know. Satan cannot bring any charge against you because in God’s sight you have been justified (just as if you had never sinned). You have been made clean by the death and resurrection of Jesus. Wow!

Father, I am amazed that you see me just as if I had never sinned. I rejoice and thank you today. Now, help me to live that way. Amen.