Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
What does it mean to be "justified"? It means we have been made righteous; sin no longer separates us from God through faith in Christ. Justified means we are acquitted... treated as "Just if I'd" never sinned. Justified!
How does justification come? Through faith...faith in Jesus. What is faith? Faith isn't something I do; it is something that happens to me. As we discussed in a previous blog (Jan 22,2011), faith is a persuasion; getting God's reasoning on a matter (Jan 23,2011). When I accepted Christ, faith was imparted to my heart. I became persuaded that God sent Jesus into the earth to undo what Adam had done in a manner of speaking.
So our justification which comes by faith empowers us to experience peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Look at the Amplified version: Romans 5:1 THEREFORE, SINCE we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
2Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God's favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.
Through Jesus, we have our access, our entrance or introduction by this faith/persuasion, into this grace...grace here is the Greek word charis we spoke of previously (Jan 19, 2011). This word means "a divine influence in the heart" and its reflection in the life of the individual, including gratitude, benefit, favor, gift, joy liberality and pleasure.
Jesus made it all possible! Not only to be reconciled to God (made to be in rightstanding with God) but He further gave us access into the state of God's favor. When you reflect on this, you will experience an overwhelming sense of GRATITUDE which will affect your ATTITUDE bringing you SOLITUDE.
Let's enjoy the benefits of God's gifts, His liberality towards us and pleasures forevermore.
Once again, your message matches up with my Max Lucado calendar message for today: Phil. 4:7. "God's peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
ReplyDeleteCan it get any better than experiencing peace with God?
Keep 'em comin', Cuz!
I love it, Marie. The Holy Spirit is wanting to get something over to us today. Peace. :>)
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