Guilt can have a paralyzing effect on people’s lives but this need not be the case

The effect on people’s lives is because their conscience tells them that they are either in the wrong or have done something wrong. This creates an uneasy feeling and the natural reaction is to try to do something ‘good’ to make up for the wrong …. to ‘earn’ forgiveness.

The gospel way is entirely different. God justifies people (He declares them not guilty) through faith in Christ, without them having to earn it. How can God do this and remain just? In this passage the inspired apostle explains that through the cross God has made peace with believing sinners …..those who had once been His enemies, those who had rejected Him, wronged Him and gone their own way.

If God did not punish sin He would not be true in Himself … He would not be just.  God’s way of providing forgiveness, through the sacrifice of Himself in the person of Jesus Christ, demonstrates His justice and amazing love. The righteousness by which the believer is saved is not his own … it is Christ’s and freely received by faith alone.