Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Justified (02/26/26)
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TITLE: Julius Was Set Free | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gloria Pierre Dean
03/05/26 -
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The truth is that he was in prison for grand theft. He had stolen from many houses that he worked in and had finally been arrested, tried, and was now in prison. He was a clever thief but not clever at selling and concealing his hoard.
As well as being a thief, he was an excellent gardener. He had designed and done wonderful things for his employers.
“Why am I a thief?? ” he asked himself.
He remembered Judge Dumas’ words to him
“You are not to be trusted! I hope you learn your lesson in prison, young man.
I am giving you six years to learn and change”
On his many lonely nights, he lay awake in his prison bed, remembering his parents and his Christian upbringing.
“Quite why I started to steal, I don’t know? Maybe I envied my neighbours’ goods?” thoughts meandered in his brain. Julius didn’t know that in his home town, people were praying for him daily. And even in prison, the prison ministry was also praying. His parents had asked them to.
He was invited to the Bible study and the Sunday service that they held, but he was yet to go.
Something began to move him, so he decided to attend one Sunday. The worship service was so beautiful. The visiting minister, Fred Smith, was teaching on the topic of righteousness. He had heard that topic preached on before, but what resounded within him was when Pastor Smith described Sanctification.
“When God says you are righteous because you believe in Jesus, you have been justified. So, what is justification? Justification means you are no longer guilty. You have been set free. Jesus removes your guilt and your punishment. It is totally based on Christ’s sacrifice for the sins of the world. Your role is to believe. By faith alone, this free grace removes condemnation. There is no prison sentence with Christ. God, the Judge, has declared you righteous. ‘Just as if you’d never sinned!!!!’ ” {Galatians 2:16, Romans 3:28}.
Eventually, Julius began to change. His fellow prisoners and the prison guards noticed. He was calmer and kinder to his fellow prisoners. He would read his Bible every day. He repented of his crimes and asked his parents forgiveness, and best of all, he accepted Christ as His Saviour.
The Prison Minister noted the change in him and wrote a letter of appeal to Judge Dumas.
Eventually, his sentence was reduced, and he went home. He considered himself sanctified at an earthly legal level and at a spiritual level through the actions of Jesus. His life changed. He no longer stole and chose to volunteer in local ministries that served others.
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