If you sin, you disobey God - and we are all in this boat. Everyone knows they intrinsically have something wrong with them and have sinned, but they compare themselves to others and determine they do better than most (regardless whether that is true or not). The problem is that God does not grade on a curve – we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. God cannot let us go to heaven because of our sin.

²⁴being justified as a gift by His grace

God has provided a solution to this problem though. He provided a means so that we can get a clean slate (all sin removed). And He not only provided this means for us to be justified, He provides it to us as a gift.

through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;

But, God could not just ignore our sin and still be a just God, He had to redeem us – a price had to be paid for our sin. He redeemed us through His Son, Jesus Christ. So, through Jesus Christ, our sin is forgiven and we are freed from our sinful nature and the penalty due it. We get to live by grace.

²⁵whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith

We now have to discuss the mechanics of how God can justify us through Jesus Christ. God publicly let His Son be ridiculed & tortured. It was a trade - God placed our sin on His Son and punished Him accordingly. This is how we are “justified as a gift” – you really were not part of this transaction – it is freely given by God.

Does this mean everyone gets to go to heaven? No. You do have to do one thing – you have to accept the gift, you have to accept God’s love. You cannot still turn your back on God and expect God to save you. God is calling you back to Him; repent and accept the free gift of God. Pray to Him, acknowledge your sin, acknowledge His love, and accept Him - turn to Him. Then, live the rest of you life in obedience and security knowing that you are a child of God.