Romans 5:1-11 (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 boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to 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 person, though for a good person 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.
9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Reflection:
During the era of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther wrestled with the understanding of his standing before God, and as the truth of justification by faith dawned upon him he wrote the following poem:
I know that though in doing good I spend my life, I never could atone for all I’ve done;
But though my sins are black as night, I dare to come before Thy sight because I trust Thy Son.
In Him alone my trust I place, come boldly to Thy throne of grace, and there commune with Thee.
Salvation sure, O Lord, is mine, and, all Unworthy, I am Thine, for Jesus died for me.
We are now reconciled with God and have peace because of Jesus Christ, and our faith in Him brings us into this incredible grace- God’s love now poured into our hearts through His Spirit. We now stand justified before God because of His love that was demonstrated and completely secured to us through Jesus Christ.
Responding to the Transmission:
Our faith begins and ends in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So now, we stand reconciled to God through Christ. Let’s spend time in prayer today boasting in Christ and praising His name; and may our boasting in Christ flow through all of our lives.
