Last week, we started memorizing our way through the Romans Road.

This week, we move forward to the third chapter… Romans 3:23-24:

Most of the time, we simply memorize the first part of this passage, the “all have sinned” part. But that leaves us with a bad taste in our mouths. That’s bad news. We’re sinners. We fall short. Ouch.

But verse 24 gives us the good news side of the equation. We are justified through what Christ did on our behalf!

But many people, especially non-believers and new believers, may not understand what that means. After all, “justified” is a pretty churchy word. What does it mean?

Here’s how I explain it to the students in our youth ministry: Justified means that because of what Christ did for me, it’s “just as if I’d” never sinned at all.

You and I both know that I did sin. So did you.  And sadly, we still do. But God’s grace takes care of that, and presents us as holy before God, all because of Christ’s redeeming work on the cross.

That is good news!

What is (or was) your initial response to this good news? How do you share this with others? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.