“So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.”

– Galatians 3:24

The law, which convicts us as sinners before God, that which kills, accuses and condemns us as sinners, was put in charge of us by God the Father. Now the law is holy, good and just. But we are not holy, good or just. We are sinners deserving of separation from God in an eternity in hell.

Therefore, we are pointed to the savior, Jesus Christ. He is our hope, peace, joy and salvation. He has died in our place for our sin and paid the penalty for our sin that through faith in him, we may have life with God as a member of his family.

In this relationship by faith in Jesus, we are justified by faith as a gift of God’s grace to us in Jesus. Justified is a legal term — declared righteous in a right relationship and in a right standing. When we repent of our sins — confessing sins, turning from sins, claiming the forgiveness of Jesus and seeking the amendment of life in the relationship that Jesus has established for us through his cross — then we are forgiven, pardoned and cleansed from all sin, all unrighteousness. We are in a righteous or right standing before God. We are justified as a gift of God’s grace through faith in Jesus. We are loved as God’s child, redeemed and claimed by God as his own possession.

It is in church that sinners are welcomed, hear the message of forgiveness, are pointed to Jesus, are encouraged to believe and trust in Jesus as our savior from sin, death and the power of the devil.