Read the Bible
Today's Devotion
From Dr. David Jeremiah
The Double Transaction
March 6, 2025
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand.
Romans 5:1-2
Recommended Reading:
Romans 5:1-115 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have[{{f}}] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Romans 5:1-11
Dr. J. I. Packer wrote a book, God’s Words, about key biblical terms, one of which was justification. As a noun, this word occurs three times in the New Testament. As a verb, it’s found 39 times, mostly in the writings of Paul. “It is his way of formulating the essential Gospel message,” Packer wrote, “that through Christ’s death guilty sinners, once justly under wrath, come into a new relationship with God as His beloved children, under grace.”
When we’re justified, God takes our sins and places them on Christ, and then He takes the righteousness of Christ and places it on us. It’s a double transaction. Our sins are imputed to Christ, and His sinlessness is imputed to us. That doesn’t mean we are presently incapable of sinning. Instead, it means when God looks at us, He sees us wrapped in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Knowing this word makes us want to live up to our position and bring every habit under our Lord’s control. Where do you need to start?
Through one act of righteousness—the life and death of the sinless Christ—the free gift came unto all.
J. I. Packer
