Like a sports team, members of God's team, the Church, need to constantly review the basics. In the Book of Romans, Paul clearly lays out the foundations of the faith we share: All people are sinful; Christ died to forgive sin; we are made right with God through faith; this begins a new life with a new relationship with God.

1. Jeffrey Dahmer, the "Milwaukee monster" who killed and dismembered 17 victims, trusted in Christ after his conviction. Do you really believe that anyone can be declared not guilty regardless of his background or past behavior?



2. Since all sins cut us off from our holy God and lead to death, do you think you tend to overrate so-called "big" sins?



3. Do you tend to minimize "little" sins?



4. Why is God being fair when he condemns sinners?



5. Why is God being fair when he justifies sinners—past, present, and future [who believe that Jesus sacrificed His life for them]?



6. On what basis does God declare us not guilty?

Ask God to give you a renewed confidence in, and gratitude for, the basis of your salvation.

²²We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. ²³For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. ²⁴Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

²⁵For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, ²⁶for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

Prayer for the Week

Thank you, Father, that You accepted the Son's sacrifice as payment in full for all our sins.

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