(Titus 3:7) Having been “made right” with God.

Before we were born-again by the Holy Spirit through believing in, and surrendering to, Jesus Christ, we were not in a right relationship with God.

Actually, we had NO relationship with God.

The New Testament tells that we lived in darkness, and were spiritually dead. Because of our rebellion in sin, we had no spiritual connection with God.

This is what I call the "Great Divorce.”

Our persistent life of sin separated us from the life of God. We attempted to live life in our own strength and pride, without any supernatural power from God, the Holy Spirit. The relational sin gap between us and God was infinite. There was nothing religious we could do to bridge this eternal separation from God.

The good news is God acted out of love in Jesus Christ toward us. He came to earth to save us—to live in our place and to die in our place.

This is what I call the “Great Exchange.”

Because of what God did for us in Jesus Christ by grace, he offered us a new way of reconciliation with him through faith. For those who are right (the righteous) with God live by faith, hope, and love. The only thing that matters is God’s love in Jesus Christ, nothing more.

Theologically, being “made right” with God through Jesus Christ alone is called “justification.” If we are to grow into mature Christians, we must first realize that we are in “right relationship” with God through Jesus Christ, and nothing can change this eternal fact.

Many Christians spiritually flounder, because they struggle with their identity. We often find it hard to accept the fact that God has reconciled us to himself by grace alone through faith, and not by our own works and efforts. We earned nothing.

Next time Satan comes along and attempts to undermine your “right relationship” with God, resist him. He will come along and tell you that you are not worthy to be accepted freely by God. Stand strong.

Be sure to declare out loud that nothing can separate you from God, for Jesus Christ is the secure rock foundation (not sinking sand) that we live upon each day.

This is the Gospel, the Good News!

Amen and Amen.