Galatians 2:16. we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
This is a really important Bible verse. Why? Because it explains what it means to be a Christian. Are you a Christian? If you are, then you have been justified by faith in Jesus Christ.
Have you ever done something wrong or hurt someone? We all have at some point in our lives. When we do something wrong, we have to make it right again. For example, if you break your neighbor’s window, you need to make it right by paying to have it fixed. Or if you hurt a classmate’s feelings, you need to make it right by apologizing to them. When we make things right, we are justified.
Any time we sin, we also need to make things right with God. Our sins hurt God’s feelings and our sin breaks what he has made. For example, if I am mean to someone and hurt their feelings, I have also hurt God’s feelings and I have broken something he made—I broke the heart of the person I was mean to.
The problem is that we commit so many sins that we could never be justified (made right) before God.
This is why God justifies us by faith and not by good works. At least not our good works. Our faith is in Jesus because he is the one who has done all the good works needed to make up for all the bad things that we have done. We have broken all of God’s rules, but Jesus has kept them all. We have broken God’s heart, but Jesus has only made God happy. This is why it is faith in Jesus that justifies us with God (makes us right).
When God justifies us, he says that we are no longer guilty. Have you ever been guilty before? Well, if you’ve done something bad, then you have been guilty. But if you are trusting in Jesus, then you are no longer considered guilty by God. You are considered as good as Jesus.
Do something together: Have your kids find something that isn’t worth very much (a broken toy or a piece of trash). Have them exchange it for something that is worth far more (a snack, a nicer toy, etc.). Let this illustrate how Jesus exchanges our guilt for our justification.
Because of Jesus: We don’t have to pay for our sins.
With Jesus: We are fully justified (made right with god).
Pray: Father, I am so glad that you are kind and generous and justify us simply because we have faith in Jesus. Thank you, Jesus, for giving me your goodness even though I don’t deserve it. Amen.
