Justified by Jesus
- Bishop Keith Butler
- Apr 14, 2023
- 2 min read
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:26)
What does it mean to be justified by Jesus? It means when we believe in Him, we are made right with God. We are no longer condemned to death and separation from God, but He welcomes us into His family as beloved children.
See, Jesus is the lid of the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant, which was in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple, had a place on the lid that was called the mercy seat. The Ark housed the presence of God in the Old Testament, and the mercy seat was the place where God met with His people. The High Priest would sprinkle the blood of a sacrificial animal on the mercy seat once a year on the Day of Atonement to make atonement for the sins of the people.
Jesus is our mercy seat because He is the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He shed His blood on the cross, and His blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness once and for all. When believers come to Him in faith, we are forgiven and cleansed of all sin.
Understanding this, we can stand in faith and approach the throne of grace with confidence, knowing God is true to His Word. Then we will find mercy and grace to help in any time of need.
God the Father sent Jesus to be our Savior and provide a way for us to avoid paying the death penalty for our sins. Jesus took the punishment that we deserved so that we could be forgiven and justified before God.
Practical Application
Don’t allow the lies of the enemy to convince you that you are unworthy, unloved, or unable to do what God called you to do. When those feelings of inadequacy try to enter your mind, declare that you are justified, forgiven, and made into a new creature. Remind yourself of who you are in Christ.
