Scripture: Romans
5:1-8
The first eight chapters of Romans is a deep exposition of
God’s work called justification. This is the work that makes us righteous and
reconciles us to God through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. This particular
part of the book focuses our attention on how justification puts us at peace
with God, and reminds us that God’s love and forgiveness is shown in saving
sinners even without their desire to be saved. The reading enhances the Old
Testament and Gospel readings this week and shows us that God’s mercy is
central in our relationship with him.
Teaching
The idea of being at peace with God implies that at one time
we were in conflict with him. This is really important. People sometimes have
this image of God as a benign deity who doesn’t care too much about what we do.
This is not the truth. God is just. He hates sin. He, because he is holy, must
punish sin. This is what makes peace with God such an amazing gift, especially
since the gift was given while we were still sinners in rebellion against God.
It is a wondrous thing that Jesus died for us to save us from God’s wrath at
our sin. Indeed, he took that wrath upon himself on the cross to rescue us and
to give us peace with God.
It is also important to notice that Paul says we stand in
grace because of Jesus. Some imagine that grace is something that we receive
once, and then we are on our own to do right or wrong. But Paul indicates that we
live in God’s grace all through our lives, receiving it over-and-over and continually
through faith in Jesus, and this grace is why we have peace with God.
Life
Over the years I’ve had too many conversations in which
someone says to me, “Pastor, I’ll be back to church when I get my life in
order.” That’s not how the Christian faith works. That’s not how Jesus works.
He doesn’t wait for us. He came while we were still sinners. He came to rescue
us because we were sinners. And he brings us back into a right relationship
with God; we don’t make ourselves right. Indeed, it was because we could not
get our life in order that he came. Let God’s grace be where you stand with
him; not your works. Don’t wait to get your life in order. Come to Jesus and he
will get your life in order.
We should also notice that Jesus’ forgiveness does not
exempt us from suffering. Suffering in faith means that we turn to God in
prayer for help. It pushes us to rely fully on God’s grace and to give up on
our own powers. Thus our suffering drives us to pray where God helps us endure,
and as we endure God works to shape our character of reliance on him, and as we
rely on him we have hope in Christ … and such a hope never lets us down.
Prayer
O God, you have justified us by Jesus’ sacrifice for us. He
has justified us sinners and made us right with you through faith. We thank and
praise you for your salvation, and for the way that you work in our lives to
give us hope in our suffering as we rely on you. Forgive us for thinking that
there is anything we contribute to our justification, and for imagining that we
are strong enough to face our suffering on our own. Teach us by your Holy Spirit
to trust you all the more, day by day, and fill us with the hope that comes
through character, endurance, and your provision and protection in our
suffering. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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