Romans 5:2-8 (NIV)
2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
We have peace with God and that changes everything---I mean everything. We have access by faith into his grace and there is where we are to live. The natural thing to do then is to rejoice in this new found hope as well as we should. Here comes the curve ball, the unexpected--but we also rejoice in our sufferings!! What? We have grace, peace, and we have been justified forever. Now why does Paul go this direction? First reason that is not mentioned here is that followers of Christ are expected to suffer. Our Lord and Savior suffered and we are not above our Savior. Paul at this point does not go into this reason instead Paul takes us into the practical side of suffering. Paul shows us that if we rejoice in our sufferings then growth happens in our lives. These are powerful words that he chooses that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. If we do not rejoice in our sufferings then we become complainers and that produces excuses and excuses turn into character flaws and that gives us a narrow view on life and no hope. The hope that God gives does not disappoint because the Holy Spirit is involved in this process. The Holy Spirit pours out the love of God into our hearts. How do we know God loves us? The Godly died for the ungodly. We are loved as we are so why would God let us down now or in the future? God would not do that to us. Have a great day.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Romans 5:1-8
Romans 5:1-2 (NIV)
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
We were born into death, unrighteousness, and condemnation. Apart from Christ this is who we are in Adam, our first prototype. This is why Paul writes that for all have sinned. Paul can say that because we were born sinners. In Christ we have life, righteousness, and we are no longer condemned, we are justified. Christ came to counter everyone of the problems that we had with God the Father. We now have peace with God, because we have been justified. We have a brand new beginning in Christ. How did such a radical transformation take place? It is by faith that we gained access into this grace. Anyone can believe. It is not our works and that truth is found in the next verses.
Romans 5:6-8 (NIV)
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
When I am having a bad day these are some of the verses I turn to remind how fortunate I am. That God loves me right now in His Son--period! It does not get any better than knowing and experiencing this magnificent truth. Hold your head high dear fellow believer. You are held in high regard by your Father in heaven. Have you memorized any Scripture lately? Maybe one of these verses strike you as one you should memorize. Go for it.
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
We were born into death, unrighteousness, and condemnation. Apart from Christ this is who we are in Adam, our first prototype. This is why Paul writes that for all have sinned. Paul can say that because we were born sinners. In Christ we have life, righteousness, and we are no longer condemned, we are justified. Christ came to counter everyone of the problems that we had with God the Father. We now have peace with God, because we have been justified. We have a brand new beginning in Christ. How did such a radical transformation take place? It is by faith that we gained access into this grace. Anyone can believe. It is not our works and that truth is found in the next verses.
Romans 5:6-8 (NIV)
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
When I am having a bad day these are some of the verses I turn to remind how fortunate I am. That God loves me right now in His Son--period! It does not get any better than knowing and experiencing this magnificent truth. Hold your head high dear fellow believer. You are held in high regard by your Father in heaven. Have you memorized any Scripture lately? Maybe one of these verses strike you as one you should memorize. Go for it.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Romans 5:1-5
I hope you all are doing well. God is good and all the time God is good.
Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Romans 5:1-2 (MSG)
1 By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus.
2 And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.
In chapter four Paul argues vigorously for faith in Christ plus nothing. In chapter five Paul begins to lay out more of the implications of a life lived by faith. Our justification through faith brings us peace with God. The same doctrine is taught by Paul in the book of Ephesians. We have been brought near by Christ's death on the cross. We who were far away are now bought near. Listen to Paul in the letter to Ephesus:
Ephesians 2:12-13 (NIV)
12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
The good news of God is that He has sent His Son to us to fuel reconciliation and peace. None of this makes any sense unless you are acquainted with the history of humanities treatment of God. If you need to read Romans chapter one again, perhaps you can read it in the Message. There is this part of us that just does not want God over us. We run from this relationship and of course the boundaries that go with that relationship. God reached down to us to make peace with us. This is what we can not fathom. God took the first steps and finished the steps. God first loved us and this is how we know love. God revealed Himself to us and this is how we know Him. We have peace with God. You are on speaking terms with our righteous God. This is all brought to us by His grace and we gained access through faith. Are you taking advantage of this new and profound relationship with your maker and savior?
Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Romans 5:1-2 (MSG)
1 By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus.
2 And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.
In chapter four Paul argues vigorously for faith in Christ plus nothing. In chapter five Paul begins to lay out more of the implications of a life lived by faith. Our justification through faith brings us peace with God. The same doctrine is taught by Paul in the book of Ephesians. We have been brought near by Christ's death on the cross. We who were far away are now bought near. Listen to Paul in the letter to Ephesus:
Ephesians 2:12-13 (NIV)
12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
The good news of God is that He has sent His Son to us to fuel reconciliation and peace. None of this makes any sense unless you are acquainted with the history of humanities treatment of God. If you need to read Romans chapter one again, perhaps you can read it in the Message. There is this part of us that just does not want God over us. We run from this relationship and of course the boundaries that go with that relationship. God reached down to us to make peace with us. This is what we can not fathom. God took the first steps and finished the steps. God first loved us and this is how we know love. God revealed Himself to us and this is how we know Him. We have peace with God. You are on speaking terms with our righteous God. This is all brought to us by His grace and we gained access through faith. Are you taking advantage of this new and profound relationship with your maker and savior?
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