The Saving Grace of Easter

A Reflection for Friday, February 27 by Jessica deLinde Dyckman

Lectionary reading for 2/27/2026: Psalm 121; Micah 7:18-20; Romans 3:21-31

Selected passage for reflection: Romans 3:21-31

Read

Romans 3:21-27( NLT)

21 “But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses[a] and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.”

Reflect

“We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.” Romans 3:22

Praise the Lord that we can say ‘Yes and Amen’ to this beautiful truth! This Bible verse helps unlock the entire Gospel and the saving grace of Easter. This is why we observe Lent, why we believe in Jesus Christ as the Sacrificial Lamb, and how we can be made right with our Creator. 

Through faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the prophesied Savior, God made a way for all people to come to Him, to find hope and salvation in eternal life. 

Then the passage goes on to say, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” Romans 3:23-24

Everyone has sinned, and our sin separated us from a perfect God. A God who is Holy of Holies, who Was and Is, and Is to Come, and who is Magnificent, Unimaginable, Glory of Glory, Awesome, and Mighty. One whose presence cannot bear sin. 

As humans, we were made for a perfect relationship with God, as He created us in His image (Imago Dei) and for His communion and glory (Genesis 1-3). Our sin separates us from that perfect harmony of community with our Creator. 

In order to be near God, sin requires a blood sacrifice. In the Ancient Days, sin was atoned (made right) by the blood of animals. But the blood of animals would only cover so much sin, and only last so long before another sacrifice needed to be made. 

The Lord longed for humankind to be in community with Him like it once was in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2-3). The only way to forever restore our relationship with God was through an eternal, perfect sacrifice: Jesus Christ. 

The only One to fulfill that role was God himself, through the holy trinity, in the flesh as God the Son, Jesus Christ. Fully God and fully human, Jesus lived a perfect life on earth without any sin. 

He did not deserve death on the cross, but willingly gave up His life. His death was a sacrifice to God to cover the sins of all mankind once and for all, making a way for humans to restore and have a right relationship with God the Father (John 3:16-18). Jesus Christ was (and is!) the sacrificial, perfect lamb for us. 

Three days after His death on the cross, Jesus came back to life! Christ’s resurrection gives us hope and life after death and truly reconciles us to God. He defeated sin, death, shame, and eternal separation forever! 

After Jesus rose from the grave, He ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father, where He waits for His second coming to earth. Where then He will reign as the true Messiah and King of Kings (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) forever and ever. 

This is the Easter story, and this is our hope! 

“If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Respond 

The Lenten and Easter seasons are a beautiful rhythm to our Christian faith. If you haven’t put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Messiah and Savior, would you consider what you have just read? 

If you are already a Christ follower, would you think of someone who needs to hear the hope of Easter? Would you consider inviting them to church on Easter Sunday?

Rest 

Heavenly Father, thank you for your faithfulness! Thank you for devising a rescue plan for our reconciliation. We praise you for the hope of Jesus Christ in this Easter season. We love you and trust in your faithfulness for the future! Amen. 

About the Author 

Jessica lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and their two children and is deeply involved in her faith community. Grounded in faith and family, she is an author and speaker who loves teaching, engaging with the community, and celebrating life with intention.

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