Romans 5:1-2

Passage

Therefore, after being declared righteous out of faithfulness we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have also obtained access by faithfulness into this grace in which we have stood.  And we boast upon a hope of the glory of God.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Once more Paul asserts that we are justified out of faithfulness.  Again, it is important to understand to where this statement points.  We have been justified out of the faithfulness of the cross.  This is precisely the point of the verses that come immediately before this section.  Christ was faithful to God and died on the cross.  We are justified through that act.  We are declared righteous because of Christ on the cross, not by any act of our own.

Why do you think Paul continues to drive this point home?  Why is the fact that we are saved only through Christ’s act upon the cross central to what we are about as followers of God?

Second Thought:

The faithfulness of Christ brings us peace with God.  It is important to understand three points about this peace.  First, it is peace with God, not peace with the world.  That should be self-explanatory and the effects of this point are significant.  Second, this peace comes because our sinful nature has put us at war with God.  Christ’s death on the cross ends the war for those who accept God’s gift of peace through Jesus Christ.  Third, this peace comes to us, not the other way around.  We did not sue God for the terms of peace.  In the midst of our rebellion from God, He made peace possible.  It is God who comes to us and presents terms of peace to us.

What does peace with God feel like?  How does all of Paul’s earlier focus on the faithfulness of Christ help identify the terms of God’s peace?  How does submission to God play into God’s terms of peace?

Third Thought:

Not only do we have peace with God, but we have been granted access to God.  Remember that in Abraham’s day God had to come to him.  In the days of the Hebrew nation, they had a temple that everyone could enter but only the consecrated priests could truly partake in the presence of God.  Through Christ, everyone in Christ has access to God.  No longer do we worship by proxy.  No longer do we have to search blindly for God.  Instead, we all can have direct access to God the Father.  You can know God personally.

What does it mean to say that you have access to God?  What does that access look in your life?  How are you using that access in your life?  Is there any way that access to God can become deeper and richer?

Passage for Tomorrow: Romans 5:3-5