Peace and Love
Opening Prayer
Thank You, God, for forgiving me. May I forgive even as You have forgiven me.
Read Romans 5:1–11
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
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. 3 Not 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.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Are there lingering shadows in your relationship with God? Receive his peace and know that you are forgiven.Is there someone in your life with whom you’ve fallen out? Whoever was at fault, now there’s always that shadow when you think of them.
In a much bigger way, our sinfulness brought a deep rift between us and God. Paul’s words bring unimaginable good news! Through Jesus, the rift is healed: we have peace and hope (1,2).
For Jewish readers, verse 2 would have brought thoughts about “access” into God’s presence in the Temple (2). Now, at peace with God, believers have freedom to live in his presence. “This grace in which we now stand” describes our state of being as justified people of God. Life as a believer may not be easy (3), but God himself stands with us. And more than that, God’s life and love have been poured
into us (5). Wow!
It’s all about what God has done for us. God in Jesus gave himself for us sinners (6). He loves us this much (8). No longer do we need to fear judgment (although we deserve it) (9). We have been put right with God and we live in the risen power of Jesus (10). Now that’s something to boast about (11)!
Apply
Is there someone with whom you need to be reconciled? Surely it doesn’t compare with what God has done for you.
Closing prayer
Thank God for the cross, and for complete forgiveness in Christ. Pray for anyone you need to forgive, or need to be reconciled to.
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