Forgiveness AND Life

Forgiveness and Life

Many in the church have been taught that salvation is the forgiveness of sins. That is correct, but it is only half of the Gospel. Yes, Jesus died to pay the price for your sins and yes, that means you are completely forgiven. But that’s not all Jesus did. He also rose again to give you life.

His resurrection resulted in your justification, according to Romans 4:25. Justification is what you needed in addition to forgiveness. Some people say justification is Jesus making you just-as-if-you never sinned. That’s not a bad definition. Jesus bore your sin on the cross. He paid the penalty you owed. Then He gave you the credit by giving you His righteousness.

Because you are righteous, you are now compatible with and acceptable to God and that is how you got eternal life. Eternal life is life that has no beginning or end. Only God has that life. You have it because He lives in you and has placed you in Christ. As Paul says in Colossians 3:4, Christ is your life.