One of the most destructive weapons that the enemy uses against us is guilt. My guess is that MOST Christians are dragging around with them the ball and chain of guilt resulting from the sins of their past - maybe even the sins from last night or this afternoon. Think for a moment: If Jesus says "Those who the Son sets free are free indeed" and "Where the Spirit of the Lord is Dylan Larkin North America Jersey , there is liberty," exactly where does this guilt fit into the lives of the Believer?


Answer: It doesn't.


I once heard a minister on a national radio show describing how, in his ministry to Muslims, one thing he heard them saying time and again was, despite their dedication to Islam, "we could never get rid of the guilt."


Fact is, no even one called alleviate the guilt of sin. It's only through RELATIONSHIP with God that this can take place.


There are several things that occur in the life of the individual who establishes such a relationship with Jesus and grows in grace and in knowledge of their Lord and Savior (2 Peter 3:18):


I. YOU'VE BEEN JUSTIFIED: that means you've been vindicated; proven to be just Johnny Gaudreau North America Jersey , lawful, righteous. In other words, to be justified means "It's just if I'd never sinned!" In God's eyes, you ARE the righteousness of God in Christ. In other words, when God sees you, He sees Jesus. So does the devil.


Do you? Or do you see a divorcee? A liar? A cheater? A pervert? A thief? An illegitimate child? A murderer? A druggie? A drunk? A loser? A failure?


No matter how bad you think you are, that's not what God sees. You've been redeemed - just as a worthless coupon can be redeemed for something of value. Jesus - our Redeemer - has redeemed us. Yes Jack Eichel North America Jersey , you've been justified, but NOT because of anything achieved on your own. Check it out:


Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Rom 3:19-28 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned Sean Couturier North America Jersey , and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.


2 Cor 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.


1 Peter 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross Colton Parayko North America Jersey , that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.


Rom 5:8-12 But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies Jacob Trouba North America Jersey , we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world Shayne Gostisbehere North America Jersey , and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:


Rom 3:28-30 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one. Rom 4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.


Rom 5:1 efore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Gal 2:16 rtheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus Morgan Rielly North America Jersey , even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.


Phil 3:9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.


QUESTION: What about James 2:24? A contradiction?
Does James 2:24 contradict these and other verses? For starters, let's use the many verses to define the one and not the opposite. Second Ryan Murray North America Jersey , no, there's no contradiction. "You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone."


All we need to do is look at the context. James chapter 2 has 26 verses:
Verses 1-7 instruct us not to show favoritism.
Verses 8-13 are comments on the Law.
Verses 14-26 are about the relationship between faith and works.
James begins this section by using the example of someone who says they have faith but have no good deeds.


James 2:14 - What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?" In other words, James is addressing the issue of a dead faith Seth Jones North America Jersey , that is nothing more than a verbal pronouncement. It is empty of life and action. He begins with the negative and demonstrates what an empty faith is (verses 15-17, words wi>Whale Watching S. Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China Wholesale Hats Wholesale Hoodie Wholesale NBA Hoodie Wholesale MLB Jerseys Wholesale NHL Hats Wholesale Football T-Shirts Wholesale MLB Hats