Declared Righteous in Christ

Scripture: Romans 5:9
“Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” (ESV)

Devotional Thought -Day 5:

The wonder of the Gospel is not only that Christ died for sinners but that His death decisively alters our standing before God. In Romans 5:9, Paul declares that those who have trusted in Christ have been justified—declared righteous—by His blood. This is not a future hope or a conditional possibility. It is a finished fact. In God’s courtroom, the verdict has already been rendered for the believer: “Not guilty.” And more than that—“Righteous in Christ.”

This declaration is not based on personal performance, moral improvement, or religious effort. It is grounded solely in the blood of Christ—the full and final payment for our sin. Paul uses “blood” as shorthand for Christ’s entire atoning work, highlighting His violent and sacrificial death on the cross. Just as the Old Testament sacrifices pointed forward to a greater substitute, so Jesus fulfilled the imagery and substance of redemption by taking the wrath of God in our place.

Notice how Paul argues from the greater to the lesser: if God justified us while we were still sinners—if He went to such lengths to bring us near—how much more can we trust that He will complete what He started? The costly act of justification is the basis for our confidence in the future. The cross did not simply remove our guilt; it removed the wrath of God that once stood against us. Because Christ absorbed it fully, none remains for those who are in Him.

This means that our future is secure. We are not waiting for a second verdict or holding our breath on judgment day. The same grace that justifies also sustains and glorifies. The wrath we once feared has been swallowed up by mercy, and what remains is peace, assurance, and hope. God’s justice is no longer a threat but a guarantee, for it would be unjust for Him to punish twice the sins He already punished in Christ.

So when your heart condemns you or the enemy whispers lies, remember the blood. Remember the cross. You are not striving to earn God’s approval—you are living from it. Christ has done what you could never do. You are justified. You are free. And your future in Him is sealed by the very righteousness of God.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for justifying me through the blood of Jesus. Thank You that I no longer stand condemned but clothed in Christ’s righteousness. Help me to rest in this truth and live with joy, confidence, and gratitude. Keep me from relying on my own efforts, and teach me to walk by faith in the finished work of the cross. In Jesus’ name, amen.