Romans 3:21-26
Some people in an effort of explain sin, guilt, judgement and salvation say that because of our faith in Christ, it is as if we never sinned. God is not delusional. Our faith does not and cannot give God amnesia. Some like to say that the blood of Jesus covers our sins, and God can see them no more. Our faith does not make God blind. When God judges us by the law, faith will never change the truth that we are guilty.

When we view Paul’s use of the word dike in the Hebrew concepts of family and right relationships everything changes. The law has revealed our unrighteousness, but now apart from the law God reveals that he is faithful in his relationship with us even to the point of sacrificing his own son. We owe the Law a debt that we can never hope to repay; we owe our very lives. Christ died in our place, and he offers us a chance to mend our relationship with God His Father. All we have to do is believe him and receive his forgiveness. Our faith does not justify our sins, but when we believe in Jesus, God pardons our sins. He mends our relationship Himself.

Our faith in God’s grace and mercy will not change everything, but it will change the important things. On the day of Judgement God will still see our guilt, but more importantly, His love will see our pardon. When we are reconciled to God by faith in His Son Jesus, our status is changed, we are no longer rebellious outlaws; we are now children of the king. As we walk in righteous relationship with God, that relationship extends His pardon over us. Walking with Jesus means we walk without fear of judgement, not because we are innocent, but because we are forgiven. Faith does not make right our relationship with the law; it makes right our relationship with God.