I've been reading Romans and I've had some thoughts that I've been jumbling around, and one of them has to do with this verse.
Romans 5:1(NKJV), "Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
The words that stick out are: justified, faith, peace with God, and through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:23, The need for Justification.
Romans 3:24, The means for Justification.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" This here is absolute. I can say that I don't believe it, but that doesn't change the fact, of this fact. This places me in need of justification. Justification is not to make me like one who has never done any wrongdoing, but it takes away that which is due me because of my wrongdoing. "...through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." What is due me(death) has been replaced with life. O.k. I see my need for justification and how it's possible to be justified, but how am I Justified? According to 5:1 it's by faith. In 4:21 I belive is faith defined. "and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform" This is only possible because of who Jesus is and what Jesus did.