Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Peace, Hope, Love, and Joy

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5)
What a package deal!  When we put our faith in Christ and accept the grace that God has shown in sending Him to sacrifice Himself for us, He freely gives us all these things.  First, we have peace with God and in our hearts: the animosity of sinful rebellion has been resolved. Secondly, we have hope, even though at the present time life may be filled with stress, struggles and suffering. Thirdly, we have and comprehend the love of God, which He has poured out upon us, even though we are so undeserving. Finally, we have joy, which also pervades this passage and our relationship with God, Who has reconciled us to Himself. Not only do we get it all; it costs us nothing. Jesus paid the price. All we need is the faith, which He also supplies. 

No comments:

Post a Comment