By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.
For there is no difference: all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation [payment for sins] through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the forgiveness of sins that are past. (Romans 3:15-17, 20-25)
Nativity scene in the public domain; rest of image by David Gunter via Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons license. From the book “Jesus is Born“.
