The Gift of Christ Jesus

Romans 5:16-18 says, "And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life."

It is very simple. Adam fell from grace—He sinned. This sin passed to all and brought with it judgement resulting in condemnation. But the free gift, which is the death of Christ on the cross and His resurrection, brought justification. Through Adam, death reigned, but those who receive God's grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through Jesus Christ. Romans 4:25 says clearly that Jesus, "was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification."

Justification is a very important doctrine. The person who receives Christ while on his death bed, or just shortly before they die, is as saved as the person who receives Christ at a young age and then spends years learning to walk more closely with Him, growing stronger in their faith, and becoming more like Jesus. The one who first believes in Jesus while approaching death, the so-called eleventh-hour conversion, is justified just like any other believer. That is why he, like the believing thief on the cross, will go straight to Heaven and find himself immediately in the presence of Christ where he will spend all eternity.

You are justified, or saved, by God's grace through faith. Good works won't save you. They are important for the believer for growing in faith, but belief in Jesus' death and resurrection is what gives you the gift of salvation. Trust Jesus by faith right now. Amen.