A Glorious Gospel

"Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, that he should live on forever and never see the pit. But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me. Selah" - Psalm 49:7-9, 15 (ESV)

"But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it--the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over former sins. It was to show His righteousness at the present time, so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." - Romans 3:21-26 (ESV)

As I read this, this morning, I was amazed at God's plan. Those of us who have heard the gospel all our lives are in great danger of forgetting that it is not just a message for lost people. When we begin to look at it that way, we are missing a wonderful opportunity to worship and enjoy our God. God's good news is meant to inspire worship in the purest form. When we read passages like the ones above, we are called to remember that the gospel is for God's glory, not just for the sinner's salvation! God is "just and the justifier." Only He could have dreamed this dream of "passing over" sins for generations and generations before the cross, then paying the penalty for all sins of all time of all who would believe in Jesus. Thus, He is just because He punished sin and the justifier because Jesus died in our place. Hallelujah! We are justified!! What a glorious gospel provided by a glorious God!