Issue 22 | 2nd August 2024

Fostering a culture of appreciation

Mrs Leisa Bromley, Deputy Principal & Head of Senior School

New beginnings

Dr Kaye Chalwell, Head of Junior School

What does the Bible have to say about how we judge ourselves?

Our condition

There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:22-23)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:18)

As we read the above verses, we learn these things about humanity – no one lives up to God’s expectations – all have sinned. The consequence of sin is death and everyone is judged and condemned before God unless they accept God’s pardon which is found in Jesus.

So, what can we do to get this pardon?

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.

This verse clearly tells us, there is nothing we can do to earn God’s favour or pardon, rather it is a gift from God.

So, how do we get this gift?

all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished - he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:24-26)

It is by putting our faith in Jesus that God pardons us. As we look at this verse, it tells us that we are ‘justified’ by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Jesus becomes our atoning sacrifice. He stands in our place so that we are set free. We do not receive this because of anything we have done or by any notion that we are worthy, in fact quite the opposite, we continually rebel against God. We receive this because of God’s righteousness and because this is God’s nature to do what is good and right, and because of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice we are declared justified, because of what Jesus did. So now, if we have faith and have put our trust in Jesus Christ, God see us and declares us Justified (Justified = Just if I’d never sinned).

And for those whose who are in Christ have a new identity. I am justified.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

Blessings.